Giants Rally Late to Defeat Cubs 9-5 in Spring Training Matchup

San Francisco's power surge in the 6th and 8th innings overcomes early Chicago lead

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Chicago Cubs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over the San Francisco Giants in a spring training matchup at Sloan Park, but the Giants rallied with four runs in the 6th inning and three more in the 8th to defeat the Cubs 9-5. The Cubs' bullpen, featuring pitchers from the minor league camp, was unable to hold the lead as the Giants hit three home runs to take control of the game.

Why it matters

This spring training game provided an opportunity for the Cubs to evaluate their roster depth, especially in the bullpen, ahead of the upcoming regular season. The Giants' late-inning comeback highlighted areas the Cubs may need to address to be more competitive against National League West opponents.

The details

The Cubs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the early innings on RBI hits from Michael Conforto and Moisés Ballesteros. However, the Giants tied the game in the 5th inning on a two-run homer from Parks Harber. The Cubs responded with three runs in the bottom of the 5th to take a 5-2 lead, but the Giants erupted for four runs in the 6th inning, including a go-ahead two-run shot from Buddy Kennedy, to take the lead. The Giants then added three more runs in the 8th inning to secure the 9-5 victory.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at Sloan Park in Arizona.
  • The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the 1st and 4th innings.
  • The Giants tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the 5th inning.
  • The Cubs regained the lead 5-2 in the bottom of the 5th inning.
  • The Giants scored four runs in the top of the 6th inning to take a 6-5 lead.
  • The Giants added three more runs in the top of the 8th inning to make the final score 9-5.

The players

Michael Conforto

Chicago Cubs outfielder who drove in the team's first run with an RBI single.

Moisés Ballesteros

Chicago Cubs infielder who had a run-scoring groundout and later drove in two more runs with a hit.

Corbin Martin

Chicago Cubs pitcher who surrendered the game-tying two-run homer to Parks Harber in the 5th inning.

Buddy Kennedy

San Francisco Giants infielder who hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the 6th inning to give the Giants the lead.

Connor Schultz

Chicago Cubs pitcher who gave up three home runs in the 6th and 8th innings as the Giants rallied to win.

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What they’re saying

“We just couldn't hold the lead late. Our bullpen struggled to keep them off the bases and they took advantage with some big swings.”

— Craig Counsell, Manager, Chicago Cubs (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The Cubs will have an off day on Monday before facing the Texas Rangers in a spring training game on Tuesday at 3:05pm CT.

The takeaway

This spring training loss highlighted the need for the Cubs to shore up their bullpen depth ahead of the regular season, as the minor league pitchers were unable to protect an early lead against the Giants' power-hitting lineup.