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Dodgers defeat Cubs, 1-0, to even NLCS at one game apiece

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Clayton Kershaw, who was perfect through four innings, gave up only two hits in seven innings and then Kenley Jansen had a perfect six-out save. Adrian Gonzalez homered in the second inning to help the Dodgers win Game 2 in the best-of-five playoff series.

Slideshow: Photos from Game 2 of the NLCS

Clayton Kershaw allows himself a smile after recording the final out in the seventh inning of Game 2. To see more images from the game, click on the photo above.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers even NLCS behind the man becoming their Mr. October

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

He was not their last line of defense, not in the second game of the National League Championship Series, but he was their best line of defense. TheDodgers required all that Clayton Kershaw had to give on Sunday. A night after a late-game catastrophe cost his team the opener, Kershaw quieted the Cubs for seven scoreless innings in a series-evening 1-0 victory at Wrigley Field.

Kershaw is this team’s firewall. His left arm stanches their wounds. He has been a starter this October and he has been a closer. The Dodgers have won all four games in which Kershaw has pitched this postseason. They’ve lost all the others. The team hopes to buck that trend in Game 3 on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

Kershaw played his part with aplomb in Game 2. Chicago managed only two hits. No Cub advanced beyond second base. Kershaw handed the game over to closer Kenley Jansen in the eighth inning. Jansen notched a six-out save, protecting a lead created by an Adrian Gonzalez homer in the second inning.

Kershaw did not give up a hit until the fifth inning. He did not reach a three-ball count until the sixth. He survived the seventh inning, the setting for so much of his October heartbreak, when Cubs second baseman Javier Baez smashed a line drive into Joc Pederson’s glove at the warning track.

A heavy October workload for Kershaw is nothing new.

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Kenley Jansen gets a six-out save to send Dodgers home a 1-0 winner

Dodgers reliever Kenley Jensen, right, embraces catcher Yasmani Grandal after recording a six-out save against the Cubs in Game 2.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

BOTTOM OF NINTH: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Kenley Jansen closed this game out. He struck out Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant, then induced a weak flare from Anthony Rizzo to Chase Utley at second base. Jansen did it all -- two innings -- in only 18 pitches.

The Dodgers won, 1-0. This best-of-seven series is tied, 1-1, and returning to Los Angeles, where the next three games will be played Tuesday through Thursday.

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Jansen has his work cut out to complete the save

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Dodgers go to the bottom of ninth inning with a 1-0 lead over the Cubs

TOP OF NINTH: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Joc Pederson led off against Aroldis Chapman with a walk and stole second base. Yasmani Grandal bunted him to third, so the Dodgers needed only a ball reasonably deep in the outfield to score an insurance run.

They did not produce one. Enrique Hernandez flew out to shallow center field and Yasiel Puig popped out to Chapman.

Kenley Jansen will have little room for error in his second inning of work, the Dodgers still leading 1-0.

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Kenley Jansen has a 1-2-3 eighth inning and the Dodgers head to the ninth inning with a 1-0 lead

BOTTOM OF EIGHTH: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Kenley Jansen threw 51 pitches, the most of his professional career, on Thursday in Washington. He struck out Willson Contreras with just three tonight to begin his outing. Jason Heyward then popped a ball up to short right field for an out. Game 1 hero Miguel Montero, pinch-hitting to applause, struck out swinging.

Jansen needed only 10 pitches to finish the inning. It will be Joc Pederson, Yasmani Grandal and Enrique Hernandez batting for the Dodgers in the top of the ninth inning.

The Cubs will have the top of their order in the bottom of the ninth.

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Dave Roberts definitly enjoys the game

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Dodgers go quietly in the eighth inning, but still lead the Cubs, 1-0

TOP OF EIGHTH: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

As Kenley Jansen continued to throw occasionally, the Dodgers went down quickly against Cubs reliever Pedro Strop. Justin Turner was hit by a pitch, but Adrian Gonzalz grounded into a double play on a first-pitch fastball. Josh Reddick then grounded out.

Jansen is taking the mound for the eighth to attempt a six-out save. Yasiel Puig double-switched with Reddick and is playing right field.

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Finally, something goes right for Clayton Kershaw

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Clayton Kershaw rebounds from a leadoff walk to keep shutout in tact

BOTTOM OF SEVENTH: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Clayton Kershaw began the inning at the same time Kenley Jansen began to warm in the Dodgers’ bullpen. Kershaw walked Anthony Rizzo on four pitches, livening up the crowd here at Wrigley Field.

Up next, Ben Zobrist popped up the first pitch behind home plate. Yasmani Grandal, the Dodger catcher, got the baseball into his glove but did not close it in time, and it escaped. Grandal was charged with an error.

Kershaw forged on and struck out Zobrist on a fastball on the outside edge of the strike zone. With one out, Addison Russell lofted one into short left field for an easy out.

Jansen continued to warm. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts visited the mound. Kershaw continued to hold the baseball in his left hand while he talked to Roberts, never relinquishing it.

Javier Baez ripped Kershaw’s second pitch to center field, eight or so feet short of a home run. Joc Pederson caught it. The inning ended. Kershaw has thrown 84 pitches; he might be done for the night.

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Is that a critical error? Cubs fans think so

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Another rally for the Dodgers with nothing to show for it

TOP OF SEVENTH: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

After Yasmani Grandal worked his second walk of the game, this time against left-hander Mike Montgomery, pinch-hitter Enrique Hernandez effectively bunted Grandal to second. Clayton Kershaw then struck out on three pitches.

Chase Utley, too, walked. After a mound visit, Montgomery got Corey Seager to line out to left field to end the inning.

The Dodgers’ bullpen remains quiet. Clayton Kershaw is going to handle the bottom of the seventh.

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Could this be the clutch moment?

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Clayton Kershaw keeps shutout in tact and Dodgers lead the Cubs, 1-0, through six innings

BOTTOM OF SIXTH

Clayton Kershaw struck out Jorge Soler, induced a foul pop-out from Dexter Fowler and induced a groundout from Kris Bryant with a 3-and-2 fastball in on his hands.

Kershaw has thrown 72 pitches. He could get a chance to complete this shutout effort.

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That’s an Andrelton Simmons staple

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Dodgers end Kyle Hendricks’ night but again leave runners stranded

TOP OF SIXTH: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Adrian Gonzalez worked a one-out walk and Josh Reddick pushed a single into left field to end Kyle Hendricks’ night. The 2016 MLB earned-run average leader struck out five and walked four in 5 1/3 innings.

Because right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. entered in relief and retired Joc Pederson on an odd double play, the Dodgers scored just the one run against Hendricks and notched three hits — Reddick’s single, Gonzalez’s homer and Clayton Kershaw’s single.

Cubs Manager Joe Maddon could have brought in left-hander Travis Wood to face the left-handed-hitting Pederson, but that would have meant subsequent substitutions from Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts. Perhaps Yasiel Puig would have pinch-hit. So Maddon did something else. This remains a one-run game.

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Clayton Kershaw gives up two hits, but Dodgers lead the Cubs, 1-0, after five inning

BOTTOM OF FIFTH: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Ben Zobrist began the inning with a shot to the left-field warning track, caught easily by Andrew Toles. Addison Russell next drove one to center just short of the track, again caught easily by a Dodger outfielder, this time Joc Pederson.

Javier Baez ended Clayton Kershaw’s perfect-game bid by waiting out a curveball and smacking it to center for a single. Willson Contreras continued the two-out rally with a single to the same location.

But Kershaw got Jason Heyward to pop out to third. He has thrown 51 pitches through five scoreless innings.

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Clayton Kershaw gets a leadoff hit but Dodgers can’t push across another run

TOP OF FIFTH: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Clayton Kershaw recorded a hit before any Chicago Cubs did tonight. He notched a one-out single to center and took second on Chase Utley’s soft groundout back to pitcher Kyle Hendricks. But the Dodgers stranded Kershaw when Corey Seager tapped out to first base.

This game is moving much faster than the Dodgers’ first six playoff games this year.

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Clayton Kershaw can get it done at the plate, too

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Clayton Kershaw completes four perfect innings as Dodgers lead the Cubs, 1-0

BOTTOM OF FOURTH: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Clayton Kershaw is nearly averaging an out per three pitches. He quickly induced a groundout from Dexter Fowler and a comebacker from Kris Bryant to begin this fourth inning.

Anthony Rizzo then became the first Cub to hit a ball hard against Kershaw, but it traveled foul along the right-field line. Three pitches later, Rizzo grounded out to first base.

Kershaw has finished four perfect innings on 40 pitches.

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Dodgers go 1-2-3 in fourth inning, but Kyle Hendricks’ pitch count is at 70

TOP OF FOURTH: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Josh Reddick flew out to center field and Joc Pederson flew out to left field. Yasmani Grandal lined out to first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

This was an easier inning for Kyle Hendricks, but he has still thrown 70 pitches through four as the Dodgers continue to hold a 1-0 lead.

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Did you know this Dodgers lore?

That’s right, in 1938 the legendary Babe Ruth was the Brooklyn Dodgers’ first base coach.

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Clayton Kershaw on cruise control through three innings

BOTTOM OF THIRD: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Clayton Kershaw continues to mow down Cubs hitters with ease.

He struck out Willson Contreras, who oddly opted not to swing at any of his pitches, got Jason Heyward to tap out harmlessly to third base, and struck out Kyle Hendricks looking, too.

Kershaw is perfect through three innings with a mere 31 pitches on his ledger.

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Dodgers rally in third inning but can’t push across any runs

TOP OF THIRD: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Clayton Kershaw, batting, grounded out to first base. Chase Utley watched a borderline 3-and-2 pitch from Kyle Hendricks. Utley flipped his bat back and was headed to first base when home-plate umpire Eric Cooper called the strike; the 37-year-old second baseman returned to the dugout with a smirk on his face.

Corey Seager followed by walking, and Justin Turner did the same, but Adrian Gonzalez struck out to end the inning. Still, the Dodgers have made Hendricks labor tonight. He has thrown 56 pitches.

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Clayton Kershaw perfect through two innings as Dodgers lead 1-0

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

BOTTOM OF SECOND: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Ben Zobrist lashed Clayton Kershaw’s first pitch into center field. Joc Pederson caught it. Addison Russell shot one into the six-hole, between shortstop and third base. Corey Seager made a challenging play appear easy and threw out Russell.

Kershaw then blew Javier Baez away with a 96-mph fastball at the letters. He has thrown just 21 pitches through two perfect innings.

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Dodgers lead 1-0 heading to the bottom of the second inning

Adrian Gonzalez celebrates with Joc Pederson after hitting a home run.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

TOP OF SECOND: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

Adrian Gonzalez homered on the second pitch Kyle Hendricks threw in the second inning. The baseball landed two or three rows into Wrigley Field’s left-field bleachers.

Josh Reddick followed by tapping one back to Hendricks for an out. Joc Pederson flew out to the left-field warning track before Yasmani Grandal passed on a high fastball to work a walk.

With two outs, Andrew Toles popped out in the foul territory behind third base.

The Dodgers take a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning.

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The Dodgers get on the scoreboard with one big swing

Dodgers Adrian Gonzalez hits homerun in second inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Kershaw cruises through first inning

BOTTOM OF FIRST: Dodgers 0, Cubs 0

Dexter Fowler, leading off, tapped one to third base. Justin Turner gloved it and threw on time to first base.

Kris Bryant then struck out and Anthony Rizzo popped out to short center field as Clayton Kershaw cruised through his first inning.

Rizzo is having a terrible postseason. That’s auspicious for the Dodgers.

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Dodgers go 1-2-3 in the top of the first inning

TOP OF FIRST: Dodgers 0, Cubs 0

Game 2 began with Chase Utley at the plate against the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks, who pumped a first-pitch fastball for a strike. Utley saw three more fastballs in the at-bat. On the last, he struck out.

Hendricks started Corey Seager with a cutter taken for a strike, another that was swung at and missed, and, again on the fourth pitch, a changeup swung at and missed for a strikeout.

Next was Justin Turner. He soon grounded out softly to shortstop. It’s time for Clayton Kershaw to pitch now.

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Looks like the kid might start Game 4 for Dodgers

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Julio Urias of the Dodgers threw a bullpen session Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The 20-year-old left-hander is in line to start the fourth game of thisNational League Championship Series on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, but his manager remains unwilling to say so officially.

“Yeah, we haven’t made that decision yet,” Dave Roberts said.

The reason: Urias could be needed to pitch long relief in Tuesday’s Game 3, also at Dodger Stadium. Left-hander Rich Hill will start that game and has not thrown more than 93 pitches in a start as a Dodger. Since his August acquisition, blisters on HIlls’ fingers have been a constant consideration in determining his start days and lengths.

“As unpredictable as these games are, with Rich going Game 3, and just the potential with the blister, we’re kind of not confirming yet,” Roberts said. “Every game, we’ve still got to kind of figure out how to navigate.”

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All is fair, or maybe fare, on the way to Wrigley

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East-West comparison in the press box

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Getting their religion at Wrigley

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Periscope session from Wrigley Field

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Some L.A. love for the Dodgers

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Video: Manager Dave Roberts says Clayton Kershaw ‘feels great’

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It’s time for Dodgers Dugout!

Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts chats with ace Clayton Kershaw before Game 1 on Saturday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell, and I have nothing funny to say in this opening sentence after that Game 1 loss.

Joe Blanton picked a really bad time to be the Joe Blanton of a couple of seasons ago.

—I really thought the Dodgers were going to win after Adrian Gonzalez got that hit off of Aroldis Chapman.

Dave Roberts made the right move in the eighth inning. Sometimes the moves work magically, sometimes they blow up in your face.

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It always seems it is up to Clayton Kershaw to carry the Dodgers

(Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

As many changes as the Dodgers made to their roster and bench over the winter, one fundamental truth about them remained the same.

They are overly dependent on Clayton Kershaw.

So after dropping the opening game of their National League Championship Series to the Chicago Cubs, they will call on Kershaw to salvage their season and preserve their October dreams.

Again.

These Dodgers weren’t supposed to be about one player. But they are. These Dodgers weren’t supposed to burden Kershaw as they did in the past. But, again, they are.

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What time does Dodgers-Cubs Game 2 start? Here are some facts and figures.

Clayton Kershaw will try start against the Cubs on two days of rest since earning a save in Game 5 of the NLDS.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Some facts and figures heading into Game 2 of the National League Championship Series between the Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs:

When: Sunday, 5 p.m. PDT.

Where: Wrigley Field.

TV: FS1. Radio: 570, 1020, 1540.

Starting pitchers: The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw (12-4, 1.69 ERA) vs. the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks (16-8, 2.13 ERA).

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