SUMMER SPECTACLE
Dodgers overcome a pair of five-run deficits to sweep Cubs, win their seventh straight
LOS ANGELES >> The Dodgers' 56th win of the season was not a work of art. Starting pitcher Julio Urías barely made it through two innings, and the Dodgers needed every available reliever to finish off an 11-9 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
There are no style points in the standings. By winning seven straight and 11 of their last 12 games — including all four against the Cubs — the Dodgers have cracked open an eight-game lead in the National League West over second-place
San Diego.
“This homestand, it's the best baseball we've played,” manager Dave Roberts said. “This is Dodger baseball.”
Their next home game will have to wait for 12 more days, until after the All-Star break. By then, the 3 hours and 59 minutes that passed Sunday afternoon will have faded into a happy blur.
Freddie Freeman had four hits, including a home run, to lead the Dodgers' 14-hit attack. Phil Bickford (1-1), the first of six relief pitchers to succeed Urías, was credited with the victory on his 27th birthday. Brusdar Graterol recorded the final six outs to earn his third save of the season.
Graterol stepped up to preserve the Dodgers' two-run lead after David Price failed to record an out in the eighth inning. Closer Craig Kimbrel and setup man Evan Phillips were both unavailable. Graterol was the last man standing. A battle of attrition was foreseeable from the outset. The Cubs sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning against Urías. Five scored, the most runs he has ever given up in a single inning.
“Julio's been fantastic all year long,” Roberts said. “It just wasn't a good one today for him. Those are going to happen.”
Urías hit two batters in the inning. Ian Happ hit a routine fly ball to left field — it carried a 90 percent catch probability, according to Statcast — that Gavin Lux overran, resulting in a double. Lux barely moved in response to the next hit, a