Dodgers slowed by Cubs’ fast start in G4 loss

LOS ANGELES — With Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill out of the way temporarily, the Cubs went back to being the Cubs on Wednesday night. Slumping Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo homered in a 10-2 blowout win over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium to deadlock the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at two games apiece.

The Cubs’ offense, blanked for 21 consecutive innings, awoke against Dodgers rookie starter Julio Urias on a Ben Zobrist bunt single leading off the fifth inning. Javier Baez and Willson Contreras delivered singles on 0-2 pitches for a run, and an errant throw to the plate by left fielder Andrew Toles set up the second run that scored on Jason Heyward’s groundout.

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Then Russell, who had taken Urias to the track for a flyout in the second inning but was batting .040 (1-for-25) in the postseason, homered to center on a 2-0 fastball. That snapped Urias’ string of facing 167 batters without allowing a home run this year at Dodger Stadium. Rizzo, batting .063 in the postseason, homered off Pedro Baez in the fifth inning and added a two-run single off Ross Stripling in a sloppy five-run sixth.

Game Date Time Matchup TV/Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 15   CHC 8, LAD 4 Gm 2 Oct. 16   LAD 1, CHC 0 Gm 3 Oct. 18   LAD 6, CHC 0 Gm 4 Oct. 19   CHC 10, LAD 2 Gm 5 Oct. 20 8 p.m. CHC @ LAD FS1 Gm 6 Oct. 22 8 p.m.  LAD @ CHC FS1 *Gm 7 Oct. 23 8 p.m. LAD @ CHC FS1 * If necessary | All times listed ET  • NLCS coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Dodgers

The Dodgers uncharacteristically helped beat themselves, committing four fielding errors — more than any other game this year and the most in a Dodgers postseason game since five in 1974 NLCS — and having two innings end with runners cut down on the bases. Two of the errors came in the sixth inning, contributing to two runs scoring on a Javier Baez sacrifice fly.

Cubs starter John Lackey, pitching with a five-run lead, walked the first two batters in the bottom of the fifth and was removed by manager Joe Maddon an inning shy of qualifying for the victory. A single by pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick off winning pitcher Mike Montgomery loaded the bases. One out later, the Dodgers got a huge break when Justin Turner’s likely double-play grounder deflected off Montgomery’s glove into left field for a two-run single. According to Statcast™, 13 plays …

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