Baez, Heyward power Cubs past Dodgers

[April 25, 2019]  Javier Baez and Jason Heyward each hit three-run home runs in a six-run sixth inning, and the Chicago Cubs held on for a 7-6 win over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.

Anthony Rizzo doubled and drove in a run for Chicago, which won for the seventh time in eight games.

Cody Bellinger and Alex Verdugo homered for Los Angeles. The Dodgers have dropped three of four.

Cubs right-hander Brad Brach (2-0) earned the win in relief, retiring the only two batters he faced to close out the sixth inning. He replaced Cole Hamels, who gave up three runs on three hits with six walks and seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Dodgers left-hander Scott Alexander (1-1) drew the loss after giving up three runs in one-third of an inning. He gave up two hits and walked a batter. Alexander followed Walker Buehler, who gave up three runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout in 5 2/3 innings.

Los Angeles opened the scoring in the fourth on Chris Taylor's RBI infield single. As Hamels ran to cover the bag at first base for a bang-bang play, Corey Seager raced around third base and beat Hamels' throw to the plate for the game's first run.

In the sixth, Bellinger increased the Dodgers' lead to 3-0 when he muscled a two-run shot just over the wall in left-center field. It was Bellinger's 12th home run, which is second in the majors behind only the Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich (13).

The Cubs stormed back with six runs in the bottom of the sixth to seize the lead. All of the runs came with two outs.

Cubs starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Baez started the rally with a three-run blast to left field. He belted a hanging slider for his team-leading eighth home run. Buehler put his hands on his knees and stared at the ground after the pitch.

After David Bote and Willson Contreras reached base, Heyward capped the big inning with another three-run homer, this time against Alexander. Heyward has five homers in 20 games this season after hitting eight homers in 127 games in 2018.

Chicago made it 7-3 in the seventh on an RBI double by Rizzo.

Verdugo pulled the Dodgers within 7-6 in the eighth when he hammered a three-run homer to center field. The shot, which traveled an estimated 421 feet, marked his fourth homer of the season.

Cubs closer Pedro Strop pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.

--Field Level Media

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