Game Seventy – Cubs 2, Dodgers 5
WP – J.P. Howell (3-1) LP – Kyle Hendricks (2-4) Save – Kenley Jansen (10)
Kyle Hendricks served up a pair of home runs that accounted for four of the Dodgers’ five runs on the night. Mike Bolsinger baffled the Cubs during his short outing before turning the game over to the bullpen. And after back-to-back wins in games started by Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, the Cubs lost the third game of the series to the Dodgers Wednesday night at the old ballyard.
The Cubs could not figure out Mike Bolsinger and allowed the right hander to keep them off the board for the first four innings of the game. Addison Russell (2-for-4 with a double, a RBI and a runs scored) collected the Cubs’ only RBI of the game, a double to left in the fifth that plated pinch-hitter Mike Baxter (1-for-1 with a run scored). The Cubs made it a 4-2 game when Anthony Rizzo (0-for-3) rolled into a 4-6-3 double play and Russell scored. But the offense was unable to string together any hits against the Dodgers’ relief corps.
The Cubs outhit the Dodgers 9-7, but three of those hits came in the two-run fifth inning. And the ninth hit ended the game when Chris Denorfia (2-for-5) was thrown out at second trying to stretch a single into a double.
Kyle Hendricks did not have it Wednesday night. Hendricks struggled with his command again. Hendricks missed up in the zone to Adrian Gonzalez, Mike Bolsinger and Justin Turner. Those three mistakes, plus a walk to Joc Pederson after he was ahead in the count 0-2, cost him four runs.
All four of the Dodgers runs off Hendricks scored on two home runs. Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo shot leading off the second on a 3-1 pitch and Justin Turner launched a three-run homer in the third. Hendricks served up a double to Mike Bolsinger on a 1-2 pitch and walked Joc Pederson before Turner took him deep for the three-run shot.
Kyle Hendricks was lifted in the bottom of the fifth for pinch-hitter Mike Baxter.
Kyle Hendricks allowed four runs on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Hendricks threw 71 pitches, 43 for strikes, in five innings.
The Dodgers added a run in the eighth against Justin Grimm and Edwin Jackson. Scott Van Slyke doubled off Grimm. Jackson replaced Grimm with two outs and Joc Pederson plated the insurance run with a single to right. Yoervis Medina pitched a scoreless ninth.
With Wednesday’s loss, the Cubs slipped to 39-31 on the season.
Adrian Gonzalez led off the second inning of a scoreless game and gave the Dodgers the lead. Hendricks fell behind Gonzalez and he drove a 3-1 pitch into the bleachers in left center … 1-0 Dodgers. Hendricks gathered himself and retired Guerrero (grounder to hole at short), Ethier (grounder to second) and Grandal (grounder to first to end the inning). Hendricks labored, it took him 28 pitches to get through two innings, but he gave up only one run.
The Cubs managed a Starlin Castro infield single in the second. And that was all. Bolsinger had the Cubs guessing as he was consistently pitching backwards the first time through the lineup.
The Dodgers had a 1-0 lead after two innings.
Kyle Hendricks continued struggling with his command in the third inning. Jimmy Rollins grounded out to Castro at third base in the shift. Hendricks served up a 1-2 pitch to Bolsinger and the Dodgers’ pitcher drove the mistake to deep center. Szczur was playing shallow and could not track the ball down. Mike Bolsinger ended up at second with a double. Hendricks struck out Hernandez swinging.
Joe Pederson walked after Hendricks was ahead in the count 0-2 and put runners on first and second with two down.
Justin Turner stepped in and pulled Hendricks’ first pitch to the bleachers in left center. And just like that, the Dodgers led 4-0. Gonzalez grounded out to second for the third out … 50 pitches for Hendricks after three innings, 29 for strikes.
Addison Russell singled to right with one out in the third. Chris Denorfia rolled a 2-2 pitch to the hole at short. Rollins fielded and threw out Russell at second. Denorfia took over at first base. Rizzo struck out swinging (1-2 pitch) to end the inning.
After three complete, the Dodgers had a 4-0 lead.
With the Dodgers still leading 4-0, Hendricks retired the side in order in the fifth.
Mike Baxter hit for Hendricks to start the bottom of the fifth. Baxter singled to center and scored when Addison Russell pulled a 3-1 pitch into the left field corner. The ball one-hopped the ivy and Baxter scored, 4-1 Dodgers. Chris Denorfia ripped a single into right. Russell held at third with no outs.
Anthony Rizzo rolled a 1-2 pitch to second. Hernandez fielded the ball and flipped to Rollins for the 4-6-3 double play. Russell scored on the play, 4-2 Dodgers. Kris Bryant walked with two outs. And Don Mattingly decided that was enough for Mike Bolsinger.
J.P. Howell took over and struck out Miguel Montero (3-2 pitch) swinging to end the inning.
The Dodgers led 4-2 after five innings.
James Russell and Justin Grimm did not allow the Dodgers to tack on the sixth or seventh inning.
The Cubs put two on in the bottom of the seventh. Anthony Rizzo walked on four pitches with two outs against lefty Adam Liberatore. Don Mattingly switched out Liberatore for Juan Nicasio. Kris Bryant singled to center. Miguel Montero flied out to left (3-1 pitch) to end the inning.
The Cubs trailed 4-2 after seven innings.
Justin Grimm stayed in and started the eighth inning. Grimm struck out Rollins swinging for the first out. Scott Van Slyke smoked a 1-0 pitch into the left field corner. With Van Slyke at second after the double, Grimm retired Kike Hernandez on a pop out to Rizzo. Maddon went to the pen, and it cost him a run.
Edwin Jackson simply cannot pitch in a pressure situation. A fact he proved once again Wednesday night.
Joc Pederson singled to right (3-2 pitch). Denorfia’s throw was well off the line, Van Slyke scored and the Dodgers took a 5-2 lead. Turner grounded out to second for the third out.
Juan Nicasio faced the minimum in the eighth. The game went to the ninth with the Cubs down by three runs, 5-2.
Yoervis Medina put a zero on the board in the top of the ninth. And Kenley Jansen took the hill for the bottom of the ninth.
Jansen made quick work of pinch-hitter Jonathan Herrera and Addison Russell. Chris Denorfia ripped a 1-0 pitch off the outfield door in left field. Scott Van Slyke played it perfectly and threw a strike to Kike Hernandez. Denorfia was called out. Joe Maddon asked the play to be reviewed. Replays showed Denorfia got his hand in. The call was upheld and the game was over.
The homestand and series with the Dodgers concludes Thursday afternoon (1:20pm CDT) with Jon Lester taking on Carlos Frias.