Cubs
beat Dodgers to even best-of-seven series at 2-2
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[October 20, 2016]
(The Sports Xchange) - Anthony
Rizzo and Addison Russell broke out of slumps by hitting home runs,
and the Chicago Cubs pounded the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-2 to even
the National League Championship Series at two games apiece
Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
The Cubs, who were shut out the previous two games, broke a
scoreless tie with a four-run fourth inning before pulling away.
Game Two is Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
Rizzo and Russell each had three hits, and Rizzo drove in three
runs. Rizzo was 1-for-11 in the series before Wednesday, and Russell
was 0-for-9.
Ben Zobrist and Dexter Fowler added two hits apiece for Chicago.
Reliever Mike Montgomery (1-0) struck out two and allowed two hits
in two innings for the win. Montgomery relieved starter John Lackey,
who went four-plus innings, allowing two runs on three hits with
three strikeouts and three walks.
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Dodgers rookie pitcher Julio Urias (0-1) gave up four runs on four
hits with four strikeouts and two walks in 3 2/3 innings. The
20-year-old became the youngest pitcher in major league history to
start a playoff game.
A five-run sixth, highlighted by an RBI single by Dexter Fowler and
a two-run base hit by Rizzo, blew the game open for Chicago.
The Dodgers believed they scored in the second inning. After Andrew
Toles singled to right with two outs, Adrian Gonzalez was called out
at the plate by umpire Angel Hernandez on a throw by right fielder
Jason Heyward to catcher Willson Contreras. A replay review failed
to overturn the call.
In the fourth, the Cubs ended their drought when Contreras'
single drove in Zobrist for 1-0 edge. It was the Chicago's first run
since the eighth inning of Game 1, a span of 21 consecutive innings.
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![](../images/102016pics/sports51.jpg)
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) celebrates with teammates
after game four of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series against the
Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A.
Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Heyward's groundout scored Baez, and Russell followed with a two-run
shot to right-center off Urias to boost the Cubs' cushion to 4-0.
Rizzo led off the fifth with a solo blast off reliever Pedro Baez
for a 5-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the fifth, walks to Toles and pinch hitter Andre
Ethier and a single by pinch hitter Howie Kendrick loaded the bases
with no outs.
After Montgomery fanned Corey Seager, Justin Turner bounced a
two-run single off the reliever's glove and into shallow left to
slice the margin to 5-2. However, Montgomery retired Gonzalez and
pinch hitter Enrique Hernandez to end the inning.
(Editing by Andrew Both)
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