Diamondbacks Rally Past Cubs 16-8 in High-Scoring Showdown

In an afternoon where temperatures soared to a blistering 101 degrees in the Phoenix area, the Arizona Diamondbacks showcased their offensive prowess, overcoming an early deficit to defeat the Chicago Cubs 16-8. The heat was palpable, and so was the intensity of the game, especially as the teams combined for an astonishing 11 runs in the third inning alone.

The D-backs struck first, capitalizing on an error by Cubs right fielder Matt Shaw. Corbin Carroll reached base on the miscue, stole second, and later scored on a single from Geraldo Perdomo, who was making his return after participating in the World Baseball Classic. This marked just Carroll’s fourth game of Spring Training following a broken hamate bone suffered earlier in camp, and Perdomo’s presence was a welcome addition to the lineup.

However, the Cubs quickly turned the tide in the third inning. Shaw ignited the rally with a leadoff double and scored on a single by Miguel Amaya. Following a double play from Michael Conforto, the Cubs loaded the bases thanks to a single from Kevin Alcántara and walks to Jonathon Long and BJ Murray. Jefferson Rojas then delivered a crushing grand slam, his third home run of the spring, sending a towering drive deep into the outfield.

But the D-backs responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Alek Thomas, another player back from the WBC, launched a two-run homer to narrow the gap. After Cabrera walked Nolan Arenado, he was replaced by minor leaguer Grayson Moore, who struggled to contain the D-backs’ offense. A wild pitch allowed the game to tie at five, and soon after, a two-run double gave Arizona a 7-5 lead.

Things did not improve for Cabrera as he returned to the mound in the fourth. He surrendered another home run to Carroll, and the D-backs continued to pile on runs, ultimately leading to an eight-run inning that left the score at 14-5 by the end of the frame. The relentless D-backs offense took full advantage of Cabrera’s struggles, as the heat seemed to affect both pitchers and hitters alike.

After Cabrera’s outing, minor leaguer Dawson Netz took over, and though the D-backs initially kept scoring, Gavin Hollowell managed to shut them down 1-2-3 in the fifth inning, reinforcing his case for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.

In the eighth inning, Alcántara made his mark with a two-run homer, his first of the spring, followed by another long ball from Long. Manager Craig Counsell’s son, Brady, played for the Diamondbacks and contributed with a 1-for-2 performance, scoring twice.

The Cubs will take a break on Thursday before engaging in their only split-squad game of Spring Training 2026 on Friday evening, with matchups against the Reds and the A’s. Both games were rescheduled due to the forecasted high temperatures, ensuring that the players will be ready for the challenges ahead.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.