FINAL: Cubs beat Dodgers 3-2, L.A. leads series 3-1

SHARE FINAL: Cubs beat Dodgers 3-2, L.A. leads series 3-1
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Chicago Cubs’ Albert Almora Jr. celebrates a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Championship Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. | Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

The Cubs only needed three outs and that’s what they got.

Wade Davis struck out Austin Barnes to start the last frame.

Davis walked Chris Taylor and then, Cody Bellinger grounds out into a double play.

Final Score: Cubs 3, Dodgers 2

The Dodgers still hold a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 of the NLCS will take place Thursday at Wrigley Field at 7 p.m. Jose Quintana will take the ball for the Cubs and he’ll oppose Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw.


Jon Jay started the inning by getting hit by a pitch.

Davis, who hasn’t had an at-bat since World Series in 2015, used Kris Bryant’s bat. After hitting several ball into the right field stands, Tony Cingrani ultimately struck the Cubs closer out.

The Cubs return to the top of their lineup with Albert Almora Jr. on the plate. Almora hit a base hit to put two Cubs on with only one out.

Dodgers had the opportunity for a double play off a Jason Heyward grounder, but Chris Taylor didn’t get to second in time. Almora got out at second, but Heyward and Jay fill the corners.

Josh Fields replaced Tony Cingrani to face Kris Bryant.

The Cubs third baseman grounded out to Chase Utley.

Cubs 3, Dodgers 2

Up next: Austin Barnes, Chris Taylor, Cody Bellinger


Wade Davis takes over for another multi-inning effort.

Justin Turner hit his third home run of the NLCS to bring the score within one.

Wade Davis walks Yasiel Puig and becomes the tying run on first base.

With one on and no outs, Andre Ethier pops out to Kris Bryant who had to run to the camera well near the Cubs dugout to make the play.

Curtis Granderson, who has four career hits against Davis, struck out swinging … until Dave Roberts argued it was a foul ball. The umpires overturned the call and Joe Maddon was livid.

Maddon eventually got ejected after roughly five minutes of arguing.

Davis threw the same pitch and struck Granderson out (again).

Davis walked Yasmani Grandal, which advanced the tying run to second.

With two on, two out, pressure was on Chase Utley, who was hitless in the last 20 at-bats in the postseason. Davis gets out of the jam by striking Utley out swinging.

Cubs 3, Dodgers 2

Up next: Wade Davis, Albert Almora Jr., Jason Heyward


Dodgers put Kenta Maeda on the mound in the eighth inning.

Willson Contreras struck out as the Cubs leadoff hitter.

Addison Russell grounded out to Chris Taylor.

With two outs, the crowd changed “Javy! Javy!” as he walked up to the plate.

But Baez grounded out to centerfield to end the inning.

Cubs 3, Dodgers 1

Up next: Justin Turner, Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier


The Cubs call on some defense to start the seventh inning.

Jason Heyward took control of the right field and Jon Jay replaced Kyle Schwarber in left field.

Jake Arrieta started the inning by walking Yasmani Grandal. But Arrieta made up for it with Chase Utley at bat. Utley struck out swinging — his ninth of the night.

Joc Pederson came in to pinch hit. Pederson, who was 0-for-8 with six career strikeouts against Arrieta, hit the ball into the ground. Willson Contreras fired a throw to Addison to get Grandal out at second.

With one on and two gone, Arrieta threw a wild pitch past Contreras with Chris Taylor at bat. Pederson advanced to second base.

With a full count, Taylor draws the walk.

Joe Maddon comes to the mound with two on and two out. He replaced Arrieta, who might have pitched his last game as a Cub, with Brian Duensing.

Arrieta waved his hat as he headed to the dugout. Here’s his line tonight: 111 pitches, three hits, one error, nine strikeouts and five walks through 6 2/3 innings.

Jon Jay made a sliding catch to get Cody Bellinger out to end the inning.

Cubs 3, Dodgers 1

Up next: Willson Contreras, Addison Russell, Javy Baez


Kyle Schwarber grounds out after shattering his bat.

Ross Stripling struck out Kris Bryant, who is 0-for-3 Wednesday night.

Dave Roberts replaced Stripling with Tony Watson.

Anthony Rizzo also struck out. He’s 0-for-3 with his third strikeout Wednesday night.

Cubs 3, Dodgers 1

Up next: Yasmani Grandal, Chase Utley, Alex Wood


Justin Turner makes Jake Arrieta pay after the Cubs pitcher throw a fast ball to the inside of the plate. He gets a base hit.

This is the first time the Dodgers are trailing in the postseason after the fifth inning.

Yasiel Puig hit toward the mound. Arrieta threw a high throw to Javy Baez, who made the leaping grab. Turner was out at second and Puig got to first.

Arrieta recorded his seventh strikeout after retiring Andrew Ethier.

ake Arrieta pitches in Game 4 of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. | Jamie Squire/Getty Images

ake Arrieta pitches in Game 4 of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. | Jamie Squire/Getty Images

With two gone and one on, Curtis Granderson struck out for the third time Wednesday night to end the inning.

Cubs 3, Dodgers 1

Up next: Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo


Slump? What hitting slump?

Javy Baez has come out of his hitting slump in a big way. Baez hit his second home run of the game after being 0-for-20 this postseason before Wednesday’s game.

Javier Baez celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 18, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Javier Baez celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 18, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Jake Arrieta hit a single to centerfield after he broke his bat.

With Arrieta on and two out, Dave Roberts headed to the mound and makes Alex Wood hand over the ball. Ross Stripling will replace Wood. Stripling is the only Dodgers bullpen pitcher that has given up hits in this series. He gave up two to the Cubs Tuesday night.

Here’s Wood’s line: 4 2/3 innings, four hits, three errors and seven strikeouts.

Cubs 3, Dodgers 1

Up next: Justin Turner, Yasiel Puig, Andrew Ethier


Alex Wood hit a solid bunt, but Jake Arrieta was able to throw a bullet to Anthony Rizzo to get the Dodgers pitcher out. Dave Roberts attempted to challenge, but the call wasn’t overturned.

Chris Taylor struck out for the second time Wednesday night, and Cody Bellinger lined out to Addison Russell to end the top of the fifth.

Cubs 2, Dodgers 1

Up next: Addison Russell, Javy Baez, Jon Jay


Kris Bryant grounded out to Chris Taylor and Anthony Rizzo struck out for the second time Wednesday night.

Willson Contrera grounded to the mound, but Alex Wood missed the backhand catch. Luckily for the Dodgers, Chris Taylor picked up the ball and got Contreras out at first.

Still thinking about Contreras’ homer from earlier this game? Get this: The 491-foot blast is the longest postseason homer since Statcast began tracking these things in 2015.

Cubs 2, Dodgers 1

Up next: Alex Wood, Chris Taylor, Cody Bellinger


Jake Arrieta struck out Curtis Granderson, but then walked Yasmani Grandal.

With one on and one out, Chase Utley grounded to Anthony Rizzo, which turned into a 3-6 double play.

On another note, TBS got an interview with Cubs manager Joe Maddon in the dugout during the fourth inning.

How much did the Cubs two home runs kickstart the Cubs’ offense?

“We’ll find out,” Maddon said. “[Rizzo] is pretty good. We have to find some consistency in our approach.”

Cubs 2, Dodgers 1

Up next:  Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras


Alex Wood recorded his fifth strikeout of the day after retiring Jake Arrieta to start the bottom of the third.

Albert Almora Jr. grounded out to Justin Turner and Kyle Schwarber grounded out to Cody Bellinger.

Wood will most likely go deep in this game. In 14 of his last 16 starts, Wood has pitched at least six innings.

Cubs 2, Dodgers 1

Up next: Curtis Granderson, Yasmani Grandal, Chase Utley


And just like that, the Dodgers are within one.

Cody Bellinger hit his first homer of this series after Chris Taylor flew out to Kyle Schwarber.

Yasiel Puig flew out to Kris Bryant and Andre Ethier grounded out to Javy Baez.

Cubs 2, Dodgers 1

Up next: Jake Arrieta, Albert Almora Jr., Kyle Schwarber


Willson Contreras and Javy Baez came out for blood in Game 4 of the NLCS.

Contreras hit a solo home run to put the Cubs on the board first. Cubs have scored first in all four games of the series.

And then Javy Baez, who was 0-for-20 this postseason heading into Wednesday’s game, hit a homer that flew just inside the foul pole.

Willson Contreras and third base coach Gary Jones of the Chicago Cubs celebrate after Contreras hit a home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 18,

Willson Contreras and third base coach Gary Jones of the Chicago Cubs celebrate after Contreras hit a home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 18, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. | Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell and Jon Jay all struck out.

Cubs 2, Dodgers 0

Up next:  Chris Taylor, Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner


After Jake Arrieta struck out Curtis Granderson, Yasmani Grandal grounded out to Anthony Rizzo.

Chase Utley reached first base after Arrieta hit him with a pitch. But with Alex Wood up next, the Cubs didn’t have to worry. Arrieta struck out Wood to end the inning.

Dodgers 0, Cubs 0

Up next: Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras, Addison Russell


It’s all or nothing for the Cubs as they take on the Dodgers in an elimination game at Wrigley Field Wednesday night.

The Cubs, who haven’t delivered much October magic this month, released their lineup for Game 4 of the NLCS.

Albert Almora Jr. and Javy Baez will start for the Cubs, while Jason Heyward will take a seat in the dugout.

The move to take Heyward out of the lineup isn’t all that surprising from an offensive standpoint. Heyward has been less than impressive at the plate this month. He’s 2-for-16 this postseason with three strikeouts and three walks.

But Heyward isn’t the only Cubs player going cold at the plate. Baez has also been in a postseason slump. He’s 0-for-20 with eight strikeouts.

Maddon said Monday during the Cubs workout day that the batting slumps are more mental than mechanical.

The Cubs, who are trailing the Dodgers 3-0 in a best-of-seven series, are on the chopping block. After Tuesday’s 6-1 loss, everyone in the Cubs clubhouse expressed confidence in Jake Arrieta. He’ll get the ball for the Cubs Wednesday night, and the Dodgers will counter with Alex Wood.

Here’s how the Cubs lineup looks:

Albert Almora Jr. CF

Kyle Schwarber LF

Kris Bryant 3B

Anthony Rizzo 1B

Willson Contreras C

Addison Russell SS

Javy Baez 2B

Jon Jay RF

Jake Arrieta P

Here’s the Dodgers lineup: 

Chris Taylor SS

Cody Bellinger 1B

Justin Turner 3B

Yasiel Puig RF

Andre Ethier LF

Curtis Granderson CF

Yasmani Grandal C

Chase Utley 2B

Alex Wood P

Follow me on Twitter: @madkenney

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