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LHP Mike Montgomery (1-0) struck out two and allowed two hits
in two innings for the win in Game 4 against the Dodgers.
Montgomery became the third reliever in the NLCS to record a win
and a hit, joining the Mets' Nolan Ryan (1969) and the Orioles'
Dick Hall (1970).
1B Anthony Rizzo homered and delivered his best offensive
performance of the postseason. Rizzo, who entered the game
batting .077 in the playoffs, struck out in his first two
at-bats against Dodgers LHP Julio Urias before taking RHP Pedro
Baez deep in the fifth. Rizzo finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs.
"To even up the series, now we have a chance to take another one
here (Thursday) and go home with a 3-2 lead," said Rizzo, who
recorded his first RBIs of the postseason. "In a way, this is
just one game. And we know that it's going to be a quick
turnaround to be ready (Thursday), but this was definitely a big
game for us."
C Willson Contreras went 1-for-5, but his biggest contributions
came on defense. Contreras tagged out Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez
in the second inning on a play that was reviewed but not
overturned. Contreras also made a perfect throw to second base
in the first to pick off Dodgers 3B Justin Turner to end the
inning.
SS Addison Russell broke out of his playoff slump in a big way
Wednesday. Russell homered and went 3-for-5 with two RBIs to end
an 0-for-9 run in the National League Championship Series.
Russell hit a two-run shot to right-center off Dodgers LHP Julio
Urias to cap a four-run, fourth inning. "I've been struggling
this postseason a little bit but didn't panic," Russell said.
"My confidence was still there. I feel like I've been seeing the
ball well, taking some pretty good swings."
RHP John Lackey went four-plus innings, allowing two runs on
three hits with three strikeouts and three walks Wednesday in
the Cubs' 3-0 win over the Dodgers. Lackey, who did not factor
into the decision, also hit a batter. "It was a big one for our
offense. Everything is about team goals right now," said Lackey,
who threw 72 pitches (41 strikes).
CF Dexter Fowler was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI in the
Cubs' Game 4 win in the NLCS. Fowler said the Cubs were long
overdue to generate their struggling offense before scoring 10
runs against the Dodgers. "You knew it was going to happen. It
was just a matter of about when," Fowler said.
RF Jason Heyward returned to the lineup despite the Dodgers
starting a left-handed pitcher. Heyward, who didn't play in Game
3, played a key role in the Game 4 win. Heyward went 0-for-5 at
the plate with an RBI. On defense, he threw out Dodgers 1B
Adrian Gonzalez in a close play at the plate that was reviewed
and allowed to stand.
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