The Dodgers celebrate after their victory today.
CHICAGO- The Dodgers didn’t need Yasiel Puig today, they also didn’t too much from their offense as one run on just two hits were enough to get the job done. The problem is that the Cubs were shutout for the second consecutive day. They haven’t scored a run since Friday and have only scored six total runs in this series.
The Cubs pitching staff pitched another gem today as the combined efforts of Carlos Villanueva, James Russell and Pedro Strop put together a nine inning effort while only giving up two hits, and four walks. The Dodgers lone run came in the top of the second. Villanueva put himself in a hole after allowing two consecutive walks to start the inning.
Dodgers catcher A.J.Ellis would then hit an RBI double which would score Hanley Ramirez from second. Aside from that, the Cubs did a great job on the pitchers mound. The Cubs had many chances to tie the game but failed each time.
Their first opportunity came in the bottom of the first inning….. The Cubs had runners on second on third with two out after Dioner Navarro hit a double. Nate Schierholtz was unable to bring them in as he grounded out to second to end the inning.
Then in the third, the Cubs had David DeJesus and Anthony Rizzo on second and first respectively {with two outs once again}. Navarro would ground out to third to stop that attempted rally. Then in the fourth with Nate Schierholtz on first, the Dodgers intentionally walked Donnie Murphy to bring Villanueva to the plate who’s only batting .173.
It would work to perfection as he would strike out in just four pitches. The Cubs final chance came in the bottom of the sixth inning. After back-to-back singles by Navarro and Schierholtz, Cody Ransom came up next only to strike out. Then Logan Watkins would get his first major league hit by blooping one over Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez to load the bases.
Unfortunately it was all for nothing as Donnie Murphy came up next and popped out to Ramirez, then Cole Gillespie {pinch-hitting for Villanueva} would ground out to the aforementioned Dodger to end the inning.
The Cubs would never reach base again as they went down in order in the final three innings, they struck out five times in that span. Dodgers starting pitcher Stephen Fife picked up his fourth win of the season, while Villanueva has now lost four of his last five starts. After the game Villanueva said, “It is what it is, we ran into a hot team.”
Kenley Jansen got the save for the Dodgers today, his 17th of the year. Los Angeles has now won 14 road games in row and they continue to set franchise and league records along the way. The Cubs have now lost seven of their last eight as their rebuilding process continues to have growing pains.
Those pains may only get worse as they head out on a six-game road trip which begins in Phildelphia on Tuesday night. After playing three games there, they go to St. Louis for the weekend before coming home to take on Cincinnati. Here is the box score from today’s game.
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