Dodgers return to the home run to lift offense, down Cubs, 5-2

The Dodgers’ offense was built to keep coming at you, with a deep lineup of hitters who know how to grind out at-bats.

Or they could just hit the ball over the fence.

The Dodgers’ struggling offense awoke just enough Wednesday to beat the Cubs, 5-2, at Wrigley Field, though it could hardly be argued it clicked as designed.

The Dodgers managed only seven hits on the night but two of them were of the home-run variety, an element to their attack that was never expected to be significant but which they continue to lead the National League.

Struggling Adrian Gonzalez started the scoring with a solo home run off Kyle Hendricks to lead off the second inning.

The Dodgers took a more comfortable lead in the third after right-hander Mike Bolsinger collected his first hit of the season with a double and Joc Pederson walked. That brought up the Dodgers’ lone hot hitter, Justin Turner.

Turner delivered a three-run homer. It was his career-high 10th home run of the season. His previous high was the seven he hit last season.

The Dodgers have hit 95 home runs this season to lead the N.L., 11 more than the Reds.

The Dodgers added one more run in the eighth when Scott Van Slyke doubled and scored on a Pederson single.

Bolsinger was pitching fairly well until running into trouble in the fifth. He gave up a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Mike Baxter and a run-scoring double to Addison Russell. Chris Denorfia singled Russell to third.

Bolsinger got Anthony Rizzo to hit into a double play, though it scored Russell with the second run. When Bolsinger then walked Kris Bryant, Manager Don Mattingly went to the bullpen.

J.P. Howell started a strong night for the bullpen, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Joel Peralta, who loaded the bases without recording an out Tuesday in his first appearance in two months, came right back and got the only two batters he faced out.

Adam Liberatore walked his only batter on four pitches, but Juan Nicasio bridged the gap to closer Kenley Jansen with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Jansen shut the Cubs down in the ninth for his 10th save.

Denofria singled into the left-field corner on the game’s final play, but Van Slyke threw a bullet to throw him out at second for the third out.

Follow Steve Dilbeck on Twitter @SteveDilbeck