Cubs Rout Dodgers 10-2 To Even NLCS At Two Games Apiece

After finding themselves in a difficult spot in the wake of two straight losses to Los Angeles, the Chicago Cubs rebounded to thrash the Dodgers 10-2 on Wednesday night.

Cubs Rout Dodgers 10-2 To Even NLCS At Two Games Apiece

Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo homered at Dodger Stadium to even the National League Championship Series at two games apiece.

The Cubs’ offense, blanked for 21 straight innings, awoke against 20-year-old Dodgers rookie starter Julio Urias on a Ben Zobrist bunt single leading off the fourth inning. Javier Baez and Wilson Contreras added singles on 0-2 pitches for a run, and an errant toss to the plate by left fielder Andrew Toles set up the second run that scored on Jason Heyward’s groundout.

“We know our offense is too good to keep down for a long time,” Zobrist said. “Hopefully, tonight is an indication of what’s to come.”

Game 5 is set for Thursday night, and the winner will go on to face the Indians in Game 1 of the World Series, which will be on Tuesday in Cleveland.

“This is a big win, for sure,” Rizzo said. “To even up the series, we have a chance to take another one here [Thursday] and go home with a 3-2 lead. In a way, this is just one game and we know it’s going to be a quick turnaround, but this was definitely a big game for us.”

Nevertheless, some of the Dodgers appeared to feel the same way about their own team.

“I think we’re in a great spot,” countered Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson. “[Kenta Maeda] goes tomorrow, then Clayton [Kershaw] and Rich [Hill]. We play at home tomorrow and we could easily be up 3-2 headed to Chicago.”

Russell homered to center on a 2-0 fastball to end a four-run fourth inning. That snapped Urias’s string of facing 167 batters without allowing a home run this year at Dodger Stadium. Rizzo, hitting .063 in the playoffs, homered off Pedro Baez in the fifth and added a two-run single off Ross Stripling in a sloppy, five-run sixth.

Rizzo claimed that his gear, rather than his approach, was what helped him perform better. He borrowed one of Matt Szczur’s bats after striking out in his first two plate appearances.

“I hit well with his bat, so he has hits in it,” Rizzo said of Szczur, who isn’t on the playoff roster but is traveling with the Cubs. “Same size, just different model and different name and it worked.”

Before the game, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he wanted his team to do the same thing they have been doing all season in winning 103 games, and that’s score first and win innings. And that’s what they did.

“What you’ve seen so far. It’s been a pretty interesting series to this point,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “I did not expect it to be such a lopsided victory for us today. Although [the Dodgers] had theirs yesterday. Like I said, it’s two out of three right now. We know it’s at least going back home at some point. Tomorrow will be a pretty nice day to come out on top and going back home, having to win one of two. We’ve been pretty good at Wrigley all year.”

Lefty Jon Lester will start for the Cubs in Game 5 Thursday night. Maeda will take the mound for the Dodgers.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 19: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs hits a two-run single in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 19, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)