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Cubs rout Dodgers in Game 4, 10-2

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Julio Urias gave up four runs in less than four innings and the Cubs broke out of their scoreless slump in a big way to rout the Dodgers and even the best-of-seven NLCS, 2-2. Game 5 is Thursday at Dodger Stadium at 5 p.m.

Dodgers’ follies help Cubs tie series

It wasn't a good night for Joc Pederson and the Dodgers.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

One sequence cannot do this game justice, not during a 10-2 defeat to the Cubs when the Dodgers’ lineup hibernated, the pitchers quivered and the defense self-destructed. But one moment will stand out, well after the outcome was decided, well after it became clear that the National League Championship Series will return to Chicago this weekend.

In the sixth inning of Game 4, with the bases loaded with Cubs and the Dodgers already down six runs, Joc Pederson launched himself across the outfield grass to snag a sinking line drive. He rose up and decided not to concede a sacrifice fly. What followed transformed this game from a rout into a farce.

Pederson spiked the throw in the infield. The ball bounced past catcher Yasmani Grandal. Sliding into the backstop, reliever Luis Avilan corralled the baseball – only to uncork a wild throw that skewed past Grandal at the plate. A 10th run scored for Chicago, the fifth in the inning, on the Dodgers’ fourth error of the game.

It was an uncharacteristic evening for these Dodgers, who entered the night capable of pushing their opponents to the brink. Instead, they fumbled the baseball in the field and ran into outs on the bases. A legitimate gripe about a second-inning replay challenge cannot overshadow an evening-long pounding.

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Cubs defeat Dodgers, 10-2, in Game 4 of NLCS

BOTTOM OF NINTH: CUBS 10, DODGERS 2

Set-up man Hector Rondon closed out the Cubs’ 10-2 victory over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Andrew Toles struck out, Yasiel Puig singled, Howie Kendrick flew out, and Corey Seager grounded out.

The NLCS is tied, 2-2, with Game 5 to be played at Dodger Stadium on Thursday at 5 p.m. After that, the series returns to Chicago for at least Game 6 on Saturday, and potentially a Sunday night Game 7. The winner will face Cleveland in the World Series beginning Tuesday in Ohio.

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Dodgers are three outs away from losing Game 4

TOP OF NINTH: CUBS 10, DODGERS 2

Alex Wood handled another inning for the Dodgers. The left-hander struck out Willson Contreras and induced an infield pop-up from Jason Heyward. Addison Russell then singled to right field before pinch-hitter Albert Almora Jr. flew out to center field to end the inning, and, almost assuredly, the Cubs’ batting for the night.

Right-hander Hector Rondon warmed for the Cubs throughout the inning. It looks like Chicago will turn to him for the bottom of the ninth.

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Dodgers retired quickly in bottom of eighth

BOTTOM OF EIGHTH: CUBS 10, DODGERS 2

Carlos Ruiz struck out, Joc Pederson flew out, and Yasmani Grandal grounded out. The sold-out crowd at Dodger Stadium has thinned dramatically. Half the seats appear empty. This series is soon going to be tied.

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Cubs don’t score in eighth, still lead Dodgers 10-2

TOP OF EIGHTH: CUBS 10, DODGERS 2

With Yasmani Grandal playing first base and Alex Wood on the mound, Dexter Fowler grounded out, Kris Bryant was hit by pitch, and Anthony Rizzo singled. He has more hits tonight than he had in the Cubs’ first seven postseason games.

The Dodgers’ Wood escaped the inning on lineouts from Ben Zobrist and Javier Baez. Nine more outs until this game’s complete.

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Dodgers don’t score in the seventh, Alex Wood to pitch the eighth

Corey Seager slides past Cubs second baseman Javier Baez on a steal attempt.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

BOTTOM OF SEVENTH: CUBS 10, DODGERS 2

After a Yasiel Puig groundout, Howie Kendrick strikeout, and Corey Seager walk, left-hander Travis Wood entered and retired Justin Turner to end the Dodgers’ half of the seventh.

Left-hander Alex Wood is going to handle the eighth inning for the Dodgers.

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Who’s winning the debate?

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Cubs lead Dodgers 10-2 after top of seventh

TOP OF SEVENTH: CUBS 10, DODGERS 2

Luis Avilan struck out Jason Heyward, then induced a flyout from Addison Russell and a groundout from Jorge Soler. The Dodgers will be facing right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. in the bottom of this inning, after the seventh-inning stretch. They continue to trail by eight runs.

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Dodgers go quietly in sixth, Cubs lead 10-2

Dodgers Joc Pederson argues with umpire Angel Hernandez on a strikeout as Yasmandi Grandal tries to intervene.
Dodgers Joc Pederson argues with umpire Angel Hernandez on a strikeout as Yasmandi Grandal tries to intervene.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

BOTTOM OF SIXTH: CUBS 10, DODGERS 2

The Dodgers made quick outs against Cubs left-hander Mike Montgomery, speeding this game up for the first time in a long time. Joc Pederson struck out looking, and Yasmani Grandal and Andrew Toles each grounded out. The outcome is a near-certainty, with the Cubs up by eight runs, but three innings of this game remain.

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Cubs lead Dodgers 10-2 after top of sixth

Yasmani Grandal shows frustration after a series of errors leads to a five run sixth inning for the Cubs.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

TOP OF SIXTH: CUBS 10, DODGERS 2

With Ross Stripling on the mound, Jason Heyward popped out, Addison Russell tapped an infield single and took second on an Enrique Hernandez error, and pitcher Mike Montgomery singled through to left.

Russell scored when Dexter Fowler ripped a single into right field. The Cubs scored twice more on a Kris Bryant walk and Anthony Rizzo, left-hander Luis Avilan replaced Stripling, and the rout was pretty much on.

After review, Ben Zobrist was awarded a single, and Javier Baez’s subsequent sacrifice fly brought in two more Cubs runs when both center fielder Joc Pederson and Avilan threw errantly on one play. It was an ugly one. Willson Contreras finally grounded out to end the inning, but the Cubs lead, 10-2, and this series is almost certainly going to go back to Chicago.

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I hope there aren’t any creepy clowns

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Cubs increase lead to 10-2

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Cubs take 8-2 lead over Dodgers

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Cubs load bases in sixth inning

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Cubs take 6-2 lead in the sixth

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The fans love Tommy Lasorda

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Cubs 5, Dodgers 2 after five innings

BOTTOM OF FIFTH: CUBS 5, DODGERS 2

Andrew Toles walked to begin the inning. Pinch-hitting for pitcher Josh Fields, Andre Ethier followed with another walk, which brought Cubs Manager Joe Maddon out to the mound, to pitcher John Lackey’s expressed disbelief.

Against left-hander Mike Montgomery, pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick singled to right. Corey Seager struck out, but the Cubs stuck with Montgomery against Justin Turner.

He knocked a comebacker off Montgomery’s glove and then into the outfield, scoring the Dodgers’ first two runs of this game. If Montgomery had not intervened, it could’ve been a double play. Then, with runners on the corners and one out, Adrian Gonzalez grounded out to first. Enrique Hernandez subsequently pinch-hit for Josh Reddick and grounded out to shortstop.

The Dodgers inched closer, but not close enough yet. They trail, 5-2.

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Dodger Stadium comes alive

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Dodgers cut Cubs’ lead to 5-2 thanks to Justin Turner’s single

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Dodgers have bases loaded, none out in fifth

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Dodgers making some noise in bottom of fifth

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Cubs lead Dodgers 5-0 after top of fifth

Dodgers right fielder Josh Reddick dives into the right field seats but misses a foul ball hit by Cubs Ben Zobrist,
Dodgers right fielder Josh Reddick dives into the right field seats but misses a foul ball hit by Cubs Ben Zobrist,
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

TOP OF FIFTH: CUBS 5, DODGERS 0

Anthony Rizzo missed a home run by a few feet on the fourth pitch of the fifth inning, driving a ball foul down the right-field line. Two pitches later, he got the homer he sought, to center field.

Cubs Manager Joe Maddon spoke before the game about retaining confidence in Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell and Jason Heyward through their struggles this postseason. He said he was not going to live in “negative town” after seven postseason games. So far, his confidence has proved correctly placed, as those three men have driven in four of the Cubs’ five runs tonight.

After Rizzo’s homer, Baez eventually retired Ben Zobrist on a drive to the right-field wall, which brought Josh Fields out of the Dodgers’ bullpen to replace him. Fields, making his first appearance of this series, got Javier Baez to ground out and Willson Contreras to strike out swinging.

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Josh Fields replaces Pedro Baez

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Pedro Baez isn’t fooling anyone

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Anthony Rizzo homers to give Cubs a 5-0 lead

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Dodgers strand two in bottom of fourth, trail 4-0

BOTTOM OF FOURTH: CUBS 4, DODGERS 0

Justin Turner led off by passing on swinging at a 3-and-2 fastball on the lower edge of the strike zone. He thought it was a ball, and it probably was closer to being a ball than a strike, but it was called a strike. So, Turner, incredulously, walked back to the Dodger dugout.

After Adrian Gonzalez flew out to left field, Josh Reddick reached on catcher’s interference, and Joc Pederson slapped a single to left. Yasmani Grandal had another opportunity to drive in runs, after his two-run homer last night, but he did not succeed. He struck out swinging.

The Dodgers continue to trail.

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Dodgers threatening in bottom of fourth

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Cubs take 4-0 lead after top of fourth

Addison Russell is congratulated by John Lackey after his two-run fourth inning homerun.
Addison Russell is congratulated by John Lackey after his two-run fourth inning homerun.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

TOP OF FOURTH: CUBS 4, DODGERS 0

Ben Zobrist led off by bunting for a hit and doing so successfully, breaking up Julio Urias’ no-hit bid. Javier Baez then dropped a single into short left field. With two men on and no out, Willson Contreras lashed another single into left field. Andrew Toles had a chance to throw Zobrist out at home, but his throw was 10 feet off-line, Zobrist scored and both Baez and Contreras took an extra base because of the mistake.

When Jason Heyward next grounded out to second, Baez scored, and Contreras took third. With one out and a 2-and-0 count, Addison Russell launched a two-run home run just past the center-field wall.

After John Lackey grounded out, Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts emerged to remove Urias for right-hander Pedro Baez. The 20-year-old rookie left-hander finished with four strikeouts, two walks, four hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings.

Fowler doubled after 10 pitches from Baez, but Baez struck out Kris Bryant on three pitches to end the lengthy half-inning. The Cubs are up, 4-0, after snapping their 21-inning scoreless streak.

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Cubs fans are making noise

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Pedro Baez replaces Julio Urias for Dodgers

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Cubs take 4-0 lead on Addison Russell’s homer

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Cubs take 2-0 lead

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Pedro Baez warming up in the bullpen

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Cubs take 1-0 lead after three straight singles

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Beautiful night at Dodger Stadium

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Dodgers and Cubs are scoreless through three innings

BOTTOM OF THIRD: DODGERS 0, CUBS 0

Julio Urias, batting, began the inning by flying out to center field. Chase Utley, up next, battled the count to 3-and-2 against Cubs starter John Lackey, then lofted a ball to the right-field wall. It stayed up for a while before Jason Heyward caught it with his back to the wall.

Corey Seager grounded out to first base on the first pitch he saw. We’re still scoreless. Lackey’s thrown only 44 pitches, and should be able to throw far more pitches than Urias tonight.

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Cubs continue to struggle on offense

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Cubs go quietly in top of third

Julio Urias leaps over the third base line on his way to the dugout after pitching a scoreless third inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

TOP OF THIRD: DODGERS 0, CUBS 0

Julio Urias struck out counterpart John Lackey swinging and induced a lineout from Dexter Fowler. He then walked Kris Bryant but struck out Anthony Rizzo, who is now, somehow, 2 for 28 in the postseason.

Urias has thrown 54 pitches. The Cubs remain hitless one-third of the way through their chances in this game.

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Change the replay rule

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He was safe

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Dodgers don’t score in second after Adrian Gonzalez called out at home on questionable call

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

BOTTOM OF SECOND: DODGERS 0, CUBS 0

Adrian Gonzalez snuck a single through an exaggerated Cubs shift. Josh Reddick flew out to left field. Joc Pederson struck out, but Yasmani Grandal walked to put a man in scoring position for Andrew Toles, who delivered a sharp single into right field.

Jason Heyward fielded it slowly, then seemed to realize Gonzalez would be trying for home and threw to the plate. Gonzalez was called out in real time, but he wagged his finger immediately, indicating he was safe. The Dodgers challenged; replays shown at the stadium showed, if not entirely conclusively, that he was safe. But the call was upheld. The inning is over.

So, this game’s not moving quite as fast as yesterday’s, but it’s still scoreless, and the Cubs don’t have a hit, either.

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Dodgers get leadoff single in second

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Urias escapes two-on, one-out jam in second

Dodgers Chase Utley drops the ball after a Corey Seager throw as Cubs Javier Baez slides safely into 2nd base
Dodgers Chase Utley drops the ball after a Corey Seager throw as Cubs Javier Baez slides safely into 2nd base
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

TOP OF SECOND: DODGERS 0, CUBS 0

It was a somewhat smooth second inning for Julio Urias, to join an entirely smooth first. Only one of his issues was self-inflicted. He got Ben Zobrist to take two called strikes in the lower third of the strike zone, then enticed a swing on an outside changeup for a flyout to center field.

Next, Javier Baez walked on four pitches. Willson Contreras showed bunt but ended up grounding one sharply to short, where Corey Seager stretched to field it and flipped the baseball to second in time for a forceout — except Chase Utley dropped the ball. So there were two men on and one out for Jason Heyward, who soon struck out.

After a 1-and-2 fastball to Addison Russell just missed the corner, Urias threw a low curveball, which Russell whacked to the edge of the warning track in left field. There, Andrew Toles caught it.

Urias needed 25 pitches to finish the inning, still scoreless. He’s thrown 37 in all.

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Dodgers-Cubs scoreless after first inning

Cubs Javier Baez is forced into a throwing error while trying to complete a double play as Corey Seager slides into him.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

BOTTOM OF FIRST: DODGERS 0, CUBS 0

John Lackey, the active major league leader in postseason starts, is pitching this game for the Chicago Cubs. He had an unexpectedly tremendous 2016 season, and, despite the fact that he’ll turn 38 this weekend, is likely to be a value for his $16 million salary in 2017.

He started by inducing a standard-issue flyout to right from Chase Utley, then hit Corey Seager in the foot with a cutter. Justin Turner, following, nearly grounded into a double play, but reached and was awarded second on an errant throw from Cubs second baseman Javier Baez.

With the count in cleanup hitter Adrian Gonzalez’s favor, Cubs catcher Willson Contreras picked off Turner at second base. This game’s scoreless through one inning. Lackey threw 18 pitches.

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Urias retires Cubs in order in first inning

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

TOP OF FIRST: DODGERS 0, CUBS 0

Julio Urias, 20, took the mound at Dodger Stadium for Game 4 of the NLCS after some banda music was played behind home plate. This is a momentous occasion for Mexican fans of this franchise. Thirty-five years ago today, the Dodgers won another NLCS game started by a 20-year-old Mexican left-hander, one Fernando Valenzuela.

Urias began this game by pumping a 93-mph fastball for a strike to Dexter Fowler. He missed with his next fastball, clocked at 94 mph, then returned with another 94-mph heater, fouled off by Fowler. He reared back to reach 95 mph and induced a groundout to first base.

Next, Kris Bryant grounded out to third base. Urias then struck out Anthony Rizzo on a 95-mph fastball, requiring only one dozen pitches to finish one scoreless inning.

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Keith Williams Jr. with our national anthem

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It’s game time

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Please make them stop

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A Mila Kunis-Ashton Kutcher sighting

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NLCS Game 4 lineups for Dodgers and Cubs

Cubs players warm up before start of Game 4.
Cubs players warm up before start of Game 4.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dave Roberts insists that Kenta Maeda will start Game 5

Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts was asked before Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday if there were any circumstances in which he would consider starting ace Clayton Kershaw on short rest in Game 5.

“No, no, Kenta,” Roberts said, asserting that right-hander Kenta Maeda would start against the Chicago Cubs in Game 5 on Thursday no matter where the series stood after four games.

Roberts will have to forgive those who are thinking, “Yeah, right.” The day after Kershaw threw 110 pitches over 6 2/3 innings on three days rest in an NL division series Game 4 win over Washington on Oct. 11, Roberts said Kershaw would “absolutely not” be available to pitch in relief in Game 5.

Two days later, Kershaw relieved closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning and notched the save by recording the final two outs of the Dodgers’ 4-3 series-clinching win over the Nationals.

Tuesday night’s 6-0 win over the Cubs, which gave the Dodgers a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series, gave Roberts the luxury of saving his two best pitchers — Kershaw and Rich Hill — for Games 6 and 7 in Wrigley Field, if necessary.

Kershaw, who missed more than two months of the second half because of a herniated disk in his lower back, would start on an extra day of rest. Hill would start on regular rest.

So Maeda, who is is 0-1 with a 9.00 earned-run average in two post-season starts after going 16-11 with a 3.48 ERA in the regular season, should have a chance to redeem himself Thursday in Dodger Stadium.

Maeda lasted only three innings in his division series Game 3 start against Washington, allowing four earned runs and five hits, including a homer to Anthony Rendon, in an 8-3 loss. He allowed three earned runs and four hits in four innings of an 8-4 loss to the Cubs in Game 1 of the NLCS on Saturday.

“It’s going to be an important game for the team, but it’s going to be an important game for myself, too,” Maeda said through an interpreter. “ … In terms of whether I feel satisfied at this point, no, because I haven’t been pitching well.”

Maeda believes he will benefit from his Game 1 start against the Cubs and vowed not to be “too careful” in Game 5.

“This time around, I think I can better imagine how I’m going to get these guys out,” Maeda said. “I remember how each hitter reacted to a certain pitch, so I’m going to base off that when I pitch again [on Thursday].”

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Julio Urias to become the youngest starting pitcher in Major League Baseball playoff history

Julio Urias
(Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

John Lackey, 37, will be pitching in his 25th postseason game. Julio Urias, 20, will be pitching in his second, after a scoreless two-inning relief appearance in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. He made the second start of his major league career at Wrigley Field in June, giving up three home runs in the fourth and fifth innings, one more than the rookie left-hander gave up in the 75 other innings he pitched this season. And in an August start, Urias limited the Cubs to one run in six innings at Dodger Stadium.

He said Tuesday that the August start gives him comfort as he readies to become the youngest starter in Major League Baseball playoff history.

“Julio, as I’ve gotten to know him, he’s just so calm and cool,” Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said. “Some of it plays to the youthfulness, the naivete, and just not really understanding the gravity of this moment, which is great.”

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Cubs starter John Lackey has plenty of experience and passion

Chicago Cubs pitcher John Lackey (second from left).
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Cubs Manager Joe Maddon describes the ultra-competitive John Lackey as “a cowboy when he pitches,” and as the veteran right-hander and Texas native has said many times during his 14-year big league career, this ain’t his first rodeo.

When Lackey, who turns 38 on Sunday, takes the mound for the Cubs in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday, it will be his 22nd postseason start.

Lackey has notched two World Series-clinching victories, in Game 7 as a rookie for the Angels in 2002 and Game 6 for the Boston Red Sox in 2013, and he has an 8-5 record and 3.22 earned-run average in 131 1/3 career postseason innings.

His mound opponent Wednesday will be Julio Urias, the Dodgers left-hander who turned 20 on Aug. 12 and will be the youngest pitcher in major league history to start a postseason game.

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