Game One Hundred Twenty-Eight – Cubs 2, Dodgers 3
WP – Julio Urias (5-2) LP – Jason Hammel (13-7) Save – Kenley Jansen (38)
The Cubs led 1-0 three batters into Saturday’s game and had rookie Julio Urias on the ropes. Anthony Rizzo singled in Dexter Fowler with the first run and it appeared the Cubs would hang a crooked number on the board. A bunt from Ben Zobrist not only changed the first inning but it seemed to impact the entire game. The Cubs were unable to string together any hits and lost a one-run game to the Dodgers.
The Cubs outhit the Dodgers 8-6 on Saturday, all singles. The Cubs struggled once again with runners in scoring position (2-for-8) and left seven men on base.
The Dodgers tied the game in the first inning on a solo home run from Corey Seager and took the lead in the third inning with a pair of runs off Jason Hammel before Joe Maddon went to his pen. Maddon had a quick hook on Hammel and gave the ball to Rob Zastryzny with one out in the third.
Rob Zastryzny retired 11 of the 12 batters he faced and gave the offense plenty of time to mount another comeback. The offense just couldn’t get on track despite the excellent work and 5 2/3 scoreless innings from Zastryzny, Trevor Cahill and Travis Wood out of the bullpen.
Dexter Fowler (1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored) led off the game with a walk. Kris Bryant (1-for-3 with a walk) blooped a single to right. Anthony Rizzo (2-for-4 with a RBI) smoked a single to right past a diving Chase Utley. Fowler scored and the Cubs took a 1-0 lead. Ben Zobrist (1-for-3 with a sac bunt) bunted in the first inning with two on and no outs. Zobrist bunted back to Urias for the first out. Bryant and Rizzo moved up to second and third but the rookie struck out Addison Russell (0-for-4) and Jorge Soler (0-for-3 with a walk) to end the inning.
The Cubs could not push across another run until the seventh inning.
Willson Contreras (2-for-4 with a run scored) started the seventh with a bunt toward third. Contreras hustled down the line and took second when Pedro Baez’s throw ended up down the right field line. A balk with Javier Baez (0-for-4) at the plate allowed Contreras to jog to third. Baez grounded out to third for the first out.
Jason Heyward (1-for-1 with a RBI) batted for Zastryzny and ripped the seventh pitch of the at-bat into left field. Contreras scored and cut the Dodgers lead to 3-2. Heyward tried to steal second with Fowler at the plate. Yasmani Grandal threw him out. Dexter Fowler walked. Kris Bryant walked and Dave Roberts went to his pen for lefty Adam Liberatore.
Anthony Rizzo grounded out to Gonzalez at first base to end the inning … it was that kind of a day for the Cubs offense.
Jason Hammel didn’t have it Saturday and gave up a lot of hard contact. The Dodgers scored all three runs in the first three innings off Hammel before Maddon went and got him. Hammel struggled with his fastball command and Maddon didn’t give him a chance to find it. Hammel served up a first inning home run to Corey Seager that tied the game at one. The Dodgers scored two off Hammel in the third inning. And a single by Justin Turner on Hammel’s last pitch of the game that plated Chase Utley ended up being the difference in the game.
Hammel was not happy and voiced his displeasure to Maddon as he approached the mound and as he walked back to the dugout.
Jason Hammel gave up three runs on five hits without a walk. Hammel struck out one of the 12 batters he faced and made 39 pitches, 27 for strikes, in 2 1/3 innings.
Rob Zastryzny was very sharp in relief of Hammel. Zastryzny retired 11 of the 12 batters he faced. Zastryzny struck out three on 45 pitches, 34 for strikes, in 3 2/3 innings. The only blemish was a fourth inning single by Andrew Toles.
Trevor Cahill struck out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh. Travis Wood pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
With Saturday’s loss, the Cubs slipped to 82-46 on the season.
The Cubs wrap up the series at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon (3:10pm CDT). Jon Lester is scheduled to face rookie right-hander Brock Stewart.