Dodgers shut down Cubs 4-2 in Cactus League play

DODGERS 4, CUBS 2

He’s a good Betts

Dodgers leadoff man Mookie Betts drove in the go-ahead run with a one-out sacrifice fly to center in the fifth inning, and the Cubs allowed two sloppy two-out runs in the seventh in their loss Sunday in Glendale.

Gone viral?

Manager David Ross missed a second consecutive day of practice and games because of a flu bug the Cubs say is severe enough that it might keep him out into midweek. Bench coach Andy Green, the former Padres manager, is filling in.

Catching heat

One day after catcher Willson Contreras launched the Cubs’ spring with a monster home run at Sloan Park, catcher Victor Caratini slugged another one to right-center for a short-lived 1-0 lead. Caratini doubled in his other at-bat.

K zone

Caratini’s first-pitch homer made him the only Cub to reach base in a 15-batter stretch against six Dodgers pitchers from the end of the first through the first batter of the sixth. Seven of those 14 retired struck out. In fact, after Ian Happ singled with one out in the sixth to become the second Cub to reach base since the first inning, Dodgers pitching retired the next six Cubs – including two more K’s.

Fifth element

Fifth-starter favorite Tyler Chatwood faced four batters in a scoreless first inning. He went 3-0 on Betts before retiring him on a fly ball and gave up a single to Corey Seager. Then he induced a grounder from Justin Turner that turned into an error/interference call at first and got an inning-ending double play from AJ Pollock. Long-shot candidate Colin Rea — last year’s Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year — allowed one hit in two scoreless innings.

On deck

Cubs at Mariners, Peoria, 2:10 p.m. Monday, MSN, Adbert Alzolay vs. Marco Gonzales.