Cubs Edge A's 4-3 in Spring Training Matchup

Ian Happ's solo homer helps Chicago rally after falling behind early

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Chicago Cubs defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-3 in a back-and-forth spring training game at Sloan Park on Saturday. The Cubs struck first with a pair of runs in the 2nd inning, but the A's took the lead with a 3-run 3rd. Ian Happ's solo home run in the 5th tied the game, and the Cubs regained the lead in the 6th on a sacrifice fly by Pedro Ramirez.

Why it matters

The game provided a preview of the Cubs' 2026 roster, with several key players contributing. The team's ability to rally after falling behind shows their resilience heading into the regular season.

The details

Chicago took an early 2-0 lead on a solo home run by Ramirez and an RBI single from Nico Hoerner in the 2nd inning. But the A's responded with 3 runs in the 3rd, capped by a go-ahead 2-run homer from Brian Serven. Happ tied the game with a solo shot in the 5th, and the Cubs went ahead for good in the 6th on Ramirez's sacrifice fly.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Sloan Park.
  • The Cubs struck first with 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
  • The A's took a 3-2 lead with a 3-run 3rd inning.
  • Happ hit his game-tying solo homer in the bottom of the 5th inning.
  • The Cubs regained the lead with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 6th inning.

The players

Ian Happ

Cubs outfielder who hit a solo home run to tie the game in the 5th inning.

Pedro Ramirez

Cubs infielder who hit a solo home run and drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.

Nico Hoerner

Cubs infielder who drove in a run with an RBI single in the 2nd inning.

Brian Serven

A's catcher who hit a go-ahead 2-run homer in the 3rd inning to give Oakland a 3-2 lead.

Craig Counsell

Cubs manager who guided the team to the one-run victory.

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What they’re saying

“We battled back after falling behind early, which is a good sign for the season ahead.”

— Ian Happ, Cubs Outfielder (Cubs Insider)

“It was a back-and-forth game, but our guys showed a lot of fight to come away with the win.”

— Craig Counsell, Cubs Manager (Cubs Insider)

What’s next

The Cubs will host the San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon at Sloan Park, with first pitch scheduled for 3:05pm CT.

The takeaway

The Cubs' ability to rally and retake the lead after falling behind demonstrates their resilience and competitiveness heading into the 2026 season. With several key contributors having strong performances, the team appears primed for another successful campaign.