Cubs erupt after Kershaw exits, defeat Dodgers
CUBS 11, DODGERS 5
LOS ANGELES — Once Clayton Kershaw exited, the Chicago Cubs put a positive ending on a 2-6 road trip.
Anthony Rizzo’s three-run double and Addison Russell’s two-run home run highlighted a seven-run seventh inning as Chicago broke loose late and beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-5 on Thursday.
The Cubs pounded out 15 hits, including a season-best four by Rizzo. Russell drove in a season-high four runs in the final regular season meeting between the teams that played each other in the National League Championship Series the past two years.
“Over the course of this road trip everyone has been fine-tuning their approaches,” Russell said. “Today you see a clear example of it being executed. It’s nice to see the ball fly.”
The teams met seven times in 10 days, with the Cubs winning four games over the two series.
“We’re doing this without everybody right now, too, and that’s the even better part,” Cubs Manager Joe Maddon said. “We have part of our bullpen but not everybody. I give these guys a lot of credit. During this little stretch they’ve been above and beyond.”
The Dodgers staked Kershaw to a 3-1 lead before he departed after five innings because of a pitch limit.
“He’s that good where he can rehab in the big leagues,” Rizzo said. “It’s amazing.”
The Cubs jumped on reliever Walker Buehler (4-2), who arrived earlier in the morning from Class AAA Oklahoma City, where he had been set for a rehab assignment.
Albert Almora Jr. homered on Buehler’s second pitch and Russell’s sacrifice fly tied it at 3 in the sixth.
Jason Heyward’s pinch-hit RBI double gave them the lead for good, 4-3.
Steve Cishek (2-0) got the victory with 12/3 innings of relief.
ROCKIES 9, GIANTS 8 DJ LeMahieu hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning and set a career best with five RBI, rallying visiting Colorado DIAMONDBACKS 4, MARLINS 0 Zack Greinke Miami. past Greinke dynamo, San pitched Francisco. singled seven too, helping twice, innings drove Arizona and in was a beat run, an stole host offensive a base and scored. PHILLIES 4, NATIONALS 3 Aaron Nola pitched into the eighth inning to win his 10th game of the season, Rhys Hoskins homered again and host Philadelphia started a pivotal division series by beating Washington. Hoskins hit a two-run shot in the seventh inning for his 13th home run of the year and a 4-1 lead that propelled the Phillies within two games of idle Atlanta for first place the NL East. BREWERS 6, REDS 4 Eric Thames hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning and visiting Milwaukee slowed down Cincinnati.
AMERICAN LEAGUE MARINERS 4, ORIOLES 2 Nelson Cruz homered and drove in three runs, and visiting Seattle utilized two errors in the 10th inning to complete their first four-game sweep at Baltimore in franchise history. The Mariners improved to 8-0 in extra innings this season. Dee Gordon beat out an infield hit off Miguel Castro (2-4) in the 10th and scored when center fielder Colby Rasmus by third baseman Steve Wilkerson and an RBI Jed Lowrie had bobbled single ATHLETICS two and drew the 13th hits, Oakland a series. by two-out Jean Sean inning Cruz beat Segura’s Manaea followed. 4, to walk host push TIGERS with Detroit pitched single. visiting the 2 to six A bases Minnesota sweep throwing strong loaded the innings error fourgame past in TWINS 2, WHITE SOX 1 (13) Max Kepler ASTROS 1, RAYS 0 Chicago. seven record McCullers Houston innings, with (9-3) their beat Jake gave 11th Tampa Marisnick up consecutive Lance three Bay homered hits McCullers to tie while road a franchise and striking victory. pitched visiting out and victory seven. have in a won The row Astros 18 matched of 21 have overall. the won club his Their record last 11th six set starts road last May 14-June first World 5 on Series the way title. to winning the franchise’s RED SOX 4, ANGELS 2 hit a two-run home run and Rafael Jackie Devers Bradley had Jr. a solo shot to help host Boston beat Los Angeles. The Red Sox have won four consecutive and six of seven as they head to New York to open threegame series against the Yankees today with first place in the AL East on the line.