Mesa, AZ (Sports Network) - Micah Hoffpauir stroked the eventual game-winning grand slam in the fifth inning to lead the Chicago Cubs in a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the spring training opener for both clubs.
Jeff Samardzija started for Chicago and lasted two innings while surrendering two runs on three hits. Ken Kadokura took the win after tossing a one-hit fifth inning, and Jeff Stevens earned the save by throwing a scoreless ninth.
Ryan Theriot went 2-for-3 for the Cubs, who took the NL Central last season with a 97-64 record but were swept by these Dodgers in the Division Series.
Claudio Vargas started for LA and went two innings, yielding a run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts and a walk. Ramon Troncoso took the loss after giving up three earned runs on two hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Tony Abreu went 1-for-2 and drove in a pair of runs for LA. Blake DeWitt drove in the other run for the Dodgers, who won the NL West last season with an 84-78 mark but lost 4-1 to the eventual World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS.
