April 13, 2017
The Dodgers still could not get their offense going on Thursday in Chicago, losing to the Cubs 4-0. Chicago took two out of three from LA in the early season series.
The Cubs deployed left-hander Brett Anderson against the Dodgers, who stifled his former team, pitching 5 shutout innings. Anderson spent two seasons with the Dodgers, with his 2016 campaign being marred by injuries. He threw 90 pitches, and gave up only 3 hits to pick up his first win of the season. He has an E.R.A of 0.84 in his two starts with Chicago.
Chicago took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run from Anthony Rizzo in the 1st inning, and then made it 2-0 on another solo shot from Addison Russell in the 4th. Those homers came off of Dodger starter Hyun-Jin Ryu, who gave up two run-scoring hits in the 5th to Kyle Schwarber and Rizzo. That made it 4-0, and it was all the offense the Cubs would need.
Ryu took the loss, lasting 4 2/3rd innings, and giving up all 4 runs on 6 hits. He fell to 0-2 on the season, and has an E.R.A. of 5.79 in his two starts.
Although Anderson is another left-handed starter that gave the Dodgers trouble, their offensive issues were not limited to just lefties.
LA only generated 3 hits off of Cubs relievers Carl Edwards Jr., Koji Uehara, and Wade Davis, who are all right-handed pitchers.
During their 3-game set with the defending World Series Champions, the Dodgers were just 1-24 with runners in scoring position. They left 26 runners on base, and they scored just four runs in the three games.
Dodger Manager Dave Robert didn’t seem too concerned. “We look at our club and we know we’re evenly matched,” he said. “I think they know it as well. They won the series. We’ll get them at our place. They know we’re not going anywhere.”
The Cubs also made some great defensive plays on Thursday. Corey Seager was robbed by Albert Almora Jr in the 1st inning, who made a spectacular leaping catch on a fly ball hit to the wall. Two innings later, Seager was robbed again.
Seager came to the plate with two outs and Kike Hernandez at 2nd base in the 3rd inning. The Dodger shortstop hit another drive to the wall but Albert Almora Jr. leaped at the ivy to make another spectacular catch.
The Dodgers are now 5-5 on the young season. They’ll return home tomorrow for the first of a four game set against the Diamondbacks. Game 1 will feature a pair of aces going at it. Clayton Kershaw gets the ball for the Dodgers, while Arizona will counter with his former teammate, Zack Greinke.