The San Francisco Giants made a strong late push to beat the Chicago Cubs 9 to 5 in a spring training game on March 8. The game stayed competitive for most of the afternoon. However, a few big hits from the Giants in the later innings allowed them to pull ahead and secure the win. Even though spring training games don’t count toward the regular season standings, they are still important for teams getting ready for the season. These games let coaches test lineups, evaluate younger players, and help everyone get back into a rhythm before the long season starts.

This matchup gave fans a glimpse of what each team might look like when the regular season begins. The Cubs had some strong moments early in the game and kept things close through the middle innings. Chicago got a boost from shortstop Dansby Swanson, who drove in a run with a double which helped get the Cubs momentum, at that moment, it seemed like the Cubs might take control of the game.

San Francisco responded in the sixth inning when Grant McCray hit a solo home run that sparked the Giants’ offense. Not long after, Jesús Rodríguez added another solo home run. Those back-to-back home runs shifted the momentum toward the Giants and fueled their dugout. The biggest turning point came later when Buddy Kennedy hit a two-run home run that put San Francisco ahead. From that point, the Giants kept scoring and built a lead that the Cubs couldn’t overcome before the final inning.

After the game, Swanson talked about the importance of games like this during spring training. “It’s still early, but these games matter for getting into a rhythm and building toward the season,” Swanson said. Overall, the game showed some positives for both teams. The Giants took advantage of scoring chances late in the game, while the Cubs displayed moments of strong offense during the middle innings. Even though it’s still early in the preseason, games like this help teams prepare for the challenges of a long MLB season. For fans, it was an entertaining matchup. Spring training may not count in the standings, but games like this still give fans something to look forward to as baseball season approaches.