May 28, 2017
Cody Bellinger and Kike Hernandez drilled 3-run homers, as the Dodgers hammered the Cubs 9-4 on Sunday afternoon at the Ravine. LA completed a 3-game weekend sweep over the Cubs.
The game figured to be a pitching duel with Clayton Kershaw going up against Jon Lester, but neither pitcher was on their game. Kershaw did not factor into the decision after giving up 4 runs on 11 hits, unable to get out of the 5th inning. Lester (3-3) took the loss after going just 3 1/3 innings, and giving up 6 runs on 7 hits.
After trailing 1-0 on a home run by Wilson Contreras, Bellinger’s 3-run homer in the 2nd gave the Dodgers the lead, then Hernandez 4th homer of the year made it 6-1.
Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo went deep off Kershaw to make it 6-4, however, the Dodgers would extend the lead in the 5th. Austin Barnes connected on a solo homer off of Mike Montgomery, then in the 7th, Yasiel Puig delivered a 2-run shot off Hector Rondon to make it 9-4.
The Cubs were outscored 18-4 in the series, losing the first two games by scores of 4-0 and 5-0.
Josh Field (2-0) got credit for the win. Fields, Sergio Romo, Adam Liberatore, and Kenley Jansen provided 4+ innings of shutout relief, in which they did not even allow a hit.
The Dodgers have won 9 of 11 overall and 11 of 13 at home. LA remains a 1.5 games behind the 1st place Rockies in the NL West.
It’s on to St. Louis now for the Dodgers, where they’ll begin a four game series starting Monday. Rich Hill (1-2, 4.76 ERA) will try to get back in the win column after a rough outing last week for LA. The Cardinals will go with Mike Leake (5-2, 1.91 ERA), who stifled the Dodgers last week.