Smith's RBI single in the 10th beats Cubs
Maybe the Dodgers are getting the hang of this extra-innings thing.
The Dodgers snoozed through the first five innings against the Chicago Cubs, managing just one hit off Cubs starter Keegan Thompson in that time. But they slowly caught up after that logy start, winning 4-3 on Will Smith's walkoff RBI single in the 10th inning Friday night.
The Dodgers have now won their past two extra-inning games after an 0-5 start and have a fivegame winning streak overall (with nine wins in their past 10 games).
Their starter, Tyler Anderson, retired the first 11 Cubs in order before giving up a hit. Anderson's changeup had the Cubs baffled. They swung at 15 of them through the first four innings, missing nine times and putting the ball in play with weak contact on the others.
But Nico Hoerner was not fooled leading off the fifth inning. He lined a changup just over the wall in left field (and just over Gavin Lux's outstretched glove) for a home run off Anderson.
In the sixth, the Cubs bunched a single from No. 9 hitter David Bote, a bunt single, a wild pitch and a double down the line by Ian Happ to drive in two more runs.
Happ turned up the temperature a few minutes later when he was caught between home and third on a comebacker to Anderson. Happ lowered his head and shoulder into Anderson as he was tagged out, Anderson adding a shove as Happ fell to the ground.
Angry chirping ensued from both sides. That was as much life as the Dodgers had shown to that point.
Their first hit, a single by Will Smith, a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases against Thompson with one out in the second inning. But Cody Bellinger struck out and Gavin Lux flew out to center field, starting a string of 13 consecutive batters retired by Thompson.
Freddie Freeman snapped that with a twoout double in the sixth inning. It looked harmless when Smith lofted a routine fly ball to right field that should have ended the inning. But Seiya Suzuki dropped it, allowing Freeman to score on the error.
With that gift, the Dodgers' comeback got started.
Jake Lamb made it a one-run game in the seventh with his first home run since joining the Dodgers and the tying run was at third when Lux tripled. Mookie Betts grounded out to strand him there.
Justin Turner led off the ninth with a single and Lamb drew a walk. After a fielder's choice, another walk loaded the bases and put the tying run 90 feet away again for Betts.
This time, he came through with a sacrifice fly to tie the game and set up Smith's heroics in the 10th inning.