Turner’s walk-off homer earns Dodgers 4-1 win, 2-0 series lead in NLCS

Justin Turner hit a walk-off three-run home run in the ninth inning off John Lackey to secure a 4-1 victory against the Cubs in Game 2 of the NLCS. The Dodgers will bring a 2-0 series lead to Chicago on Tuesday.

Yasiel Puig led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Charlie Culberson.

Lackey came into the game with two outs and the winning run on second base.

Lackey walked Chris Taylor before giving up a home run to center field to Turner on a 1-0 count.

Turner had tied the game for the Dodgers with an RBI single in the fifth, the only other run the Dodgers had scored before the homer.

Jon Lester and the Cubs bullpen had pitched well until Turner’s ninth inning blast. Lester threw 4 2/3 innings and allowed three hits, five walks and a run. Carl Edwards Jr., Pedro Strop and Brian Duensing kept the Cubs in the game until Lackey came in and faced two batters without getting either of them out.

It was an interesting move to bring Lackey into the game. A notoriously slow starter, Wade Davis had warmed up earlier and would have likely been a better choice in a high leverage situation.

This game marked the first time Lackey ever pitched in back to back games.

Addison Russell provided the only offense for the Cubs with a solo home run in the fifth. Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras, the Cubs’ 3-4-5 hitters, combined to go 0 for 11 with seven strikeouts. Rizzo reached in the ninth on a hit by pitch.

Kyle Hendricks starts for the Cubs when the series comes to Chicago on Tuesday.

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Top of Ninth

The Cubs put their first runner on against a Dodgers reliever in the ninth but weren’t able to produce a run.

Anthony Rizzo got hit by a pitch in the hand with one out, the first Cubs baserunner against a Dodgers reliever after 22 consecutive outs. Willson Contreras struck out and Albert Almora grounded out to end the inning.

Brian Duensing will remain in the game for the Cubs to face the bottom of the Dodgers lineup.

Cubs 1, Dodgers 1, Middle Ninth

Due up for Dodgers:

7. Puig 0-1, 2 BB, K

8. Culberson 1-3, 2B, R

9. Jansen 0-0

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Bottom of Eighth

Brian Duensing dropped a toss at first base from Anthony Rizzo to allow Cody Bellinger to lead off the inning on base. The play was dubiously ruled a hit, even though Bellinger would have been out if Duensing held the ball.

Duensing made amends by getting Austin Barnes to ground into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

That’s 3 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball for the Cubs bullpen tonight.

The game remains tied as we head to the ninth inning. Will a Cubs hitter get on base against a Dodgers reliever in either of the first two games…?

Cubs 1, Dodgers 1, End of Eighth

Due up for Cubs:

2. Bryant 0-3, K

3. Rizzo 0-3 2 K

4. Contreras 0-3, 2 K

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Top of Eighth

The Dodgers bullpen continues to stymie Cubs hitters.

Josh Fields and Tony Watson combined for a 1-2-3 eighth inning, meaning Dodgers relievers have now retired 21 straight Cubs hitters.

The Cubs will have the heart of the order (Bryant-Rizzo-Contreras) up next inning, and the trio has underperformed so far tonight. The optimist out there would say they’re due.

Brian Duensing is coming in to pitch for the Cubs.

Who will blink first?

Cubs 1, Dodgers 1, Middle of Eighth

Due up for Dodgers:

3. Bellinger 1-2, 2B, BB

4. Pederson 0-0

5. Forsythe 0-3

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Bottom of Seventh

Pedro Strop came on in relief of Carl Edwards Jr. and pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

He gave up a two-out walk to Chris Taylor before Justin Turner flew out to end the inning.

Josh Fields will pitch the eighth inning for the Dodgers.

Cubs 1, Dodgers 1, End of Seventh

Due up for Cubs:

8. Baez 0-1, BB

9. Zobrist 0-0

1. Jay 1-3, 1B

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Top of Seventh

Six up, six down for Dodgers reliever Brandon Morrow, who plowed through the Cubs in the seventh.

Albert Almora grounded out on the first pitch, Addison Russell struck out, and Jason Heyward flew out.

Dodgers relievers have now retired 18 straight Cubs hitters in this series.

Time to stretch.

Cubs 1, Dodgers 1, Middle Seventh

Due up for Dodgers:

8. Culberson 1-2, 2B, R

9. Granderson 0-1

1. Taylor 0-3

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Bottom of Sixth

Cubs fans held their breath as Carl Edwards Jr. came on for the sixth inning. But Edwards, who has struggled this postseason, pitched a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts.

Edwards has now faced four hitters this game, struck out three and and not allowed a baserunner.

Edwards went 3-0 to Yasiel Puig but battled back to strike him out swinging to end the inning.

Cubs 1, Dodgers 1, End of Sixth

Due up for Cubs:

5. Almora 0-2, K

6. Russell 1-2, HR, K

7. Heyward 0-2

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Top of Sixth

Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras went down in order against Dodgers reliever Brandon Morrow.

The Cubs’ 2-3-4 hitters are 0 for 9 tonight with five strikeouts. Cubs won’t get through the NLCS without those hitters, and they’ve been absent so far.

Carl Edwards Jr. is back out to pitch the sixth for the Cubs.

Cubs 1, Dodgers 1, Middle Sixth

Due up for Dodgers:

5. Forsythe 0-2

6. Barnes 0-2, K

7. Puig 0-0, 2 BB

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Bottom of Fifth

Justin Turner hit an RBI single to tie the game 1-1, a half inning after the Cubs took the lead.

Joe Maddon gave Lester the hook one batter later after a walk to Cody Bellinger. Carl Edwards Jr. came in and struck out Chase Utley for the final out.

Final line on Lester: 4.2 IP, ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 2 K

The five walks by Lester were a career high in a postseason game.

Charlie Culberson led off the inning against Lester with a double and advanced to third on Chris Taylor’s groundout.

Turner’s single found the hole between Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez into right field.

Rich Hill’s day is done, too. Curtis Granderson pinch-hit for him after Culberson’s double.

Final line on Hill: 5 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, 8 K, HR

The heart of the Cubs order is due up, and they’re a combined 0 for 6 with four K’s tonight.

Cubs 1, Dodgers 1, End of Fifth

Due up for Cubs:

2. Bryant 0-2, K

3. Rizzo 0-2, 2 K

4. Contreras 0-2, K

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Top of Fifth

Addison Russell hit a solo home run to left field to lead off the fifth and give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. The homer came on a 1-2 fastball.

This game is oddly reminiscent of last night, when the Cubs took the lead on Albert Almora’s home run and Jose Quintana was throwing a gem.

This time, Russell hit the homer and Lester has been strong on the mound.

Lester will start seeing Dodgers hitters for a third time in the next half inning.

Rich Hill will come up second in the order, so we’ll see if he’ll get another inning after the home run.

Cubs 1, Dodgers 0, Middle of Fifth

Due up for Dodgers:

8. Cuberson 0-1

9. Hill 0-1, K

1. Taylor 0-2

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Bottom of Fourth

Jon Lester gave up another two-out walk to Yasiel Puig, but Willson Contreras threw him out stealing to end the inning.

Javy Baez made a great tag on Puig and did a happy dance as he ran off the field.

Lester has allowed one hit and four walks in four scoreless innings. He’s at 77 pitches.

Hill has allowed one hit and one walk through four. He’s struck out seven and thrown 61 pitches.

Cubs 0, Dodgers 0, End of Fourth

Due up for Cubs:

6. Russell 0-1, L

7. Heyward 0-1

8. Baez 0-0, BB

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Top of Fourth

Rich Hill retired the Cubs in order in the fourth with a pair of strikeouts.

The Cubs offense is still asleep at the wheel this series — they’ve got two baserunners since the fourth inning yesterday.

Rich Hill is at 62 pitches.

Cubs 0, Dodgers 0, Middle Fourth

Due up for Dodgers:

5. Forsythe 0-1

6. Barnes 0-1, K

7. Puig 0-0, BB

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Bottom of Third

Two more Dodgers were stranded at the end of the third as Jon Lester evades trouble once again.

With two outs, Justin Turner walked and Cody Bellinger doubled to deep left field. The Dodgers did the Cubs a favor by holding Turner at third — he almost certainly would have scored.

Kike Hernandez flew out to end the threat and keep the Dodgers off the board.

Lester is at 50 pitches.

Cubs 0, Dodgers 0, End of Third

Due up for Cubs:

3. Rizzo 0-1, K

4. Contreras 0-1, K

5. Almora 0-1

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Top of Third

The Cubs threw away their first shot at a run tonight, stranding a runner on third with one out.

The notoriously impatient Javy Baez managed to draw a walk to lead off the inning. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

But those gifts were returned after Jon Jay grounded out weakly to first and Kris Bryant struck out swinging. That was Bryant’s 12th strikeout of this postseason. Yeesh.

Cubs 0, Dodgers 0, Middle Third

Due up for Dodgers:

9. Hill 0-0

1. Taylor 0-1

2. Turner 0-1

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Bottom of Second

The second inning wasn’t as short or as sweet as Jon Lester’s first, but he still hasn’t allowed a Dodger hit or run.

Lester gave up a leadoff walk to Kike Hernandez and later walked Yasiel Puig with two outs. Charlie Culberson flew out to right field to end the inning with two runners on.

After a seven-pitch first inning, Lester needed 28 pitches to get through the second. He’s at 35 for the game.

Lester needs to hold off the Dodgers as long as he can to keep the bullpen off the field. Cubs starters have a 1.99 ERA this postseason, while the bullpen has an ERA north of 7.00.

Cubs 0, Dodgers 0, End of Second

Due up for Cubs:

8. Baez 0-0

9. Lester 0-0

1. Jay 1-1, 1B

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Top of Second

Rich Hill threw a 1-2-3 second inning and has retired the last six Cubs batters.

Albert Almora and Jason Heyward grounded out, and Addison Russell struck out swinging.

The Cubs have one baserunner in their last 25 batters.

Cubs 0, Dodgers 0, Middle Second

Due up for Dodgers:

4. Hernandez 0-0

5. Forsythe 0-0

6. Barnes 0-0

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Bottom of First

Jon Lester quickly retired the Dodgers in order in the first, requiring only seven pitchers to get out of the inning.

Lester bookended the inning with groundouts from Chris Taylor and Cody Bellinger. Justin Turner flew out to Albert Almora in deep left field.

Lester looks well rested, which was the biggest concern after pitching on Wednesday against the Nationals.

Cubs 0, Dodgers 0, End First

Due up for Cubs:

5. Almora 0-0

6. Russell 0-0

7. Heyward 0-0

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Top of First

Rich Hill and the Dodgers came out of the top of the first unscathed after surrendering a leadoff single to Jon Jay.

Jay stroked a hit to left-center field, but Hill and his sweeping curveball kept the Cubs in check.

Kris Bryant flew out to right, Anthony Rizzo struck out swinging, and Willson Contreras struck out looking.

Jay’s single was the Cubs’ first baserunner since the fourth inning yesterday.

Cubs 0, Dodgers 0, Middle First

Due up for Dodgers:

1. Taylor 0-0

2. Turner 0-0

3. Bellinger 0-0

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LOS ANGELES — Jason Heyward, who has never faced Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill, will get his first start for the Cubs tonight in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series (6:38 CST, TBS, 670-AM).

Kyle Schwarber, who went 0-for-3 in Game 1, is out of the lineup and Jon Jay remains in the leadoff spot for the Cubs.

Albert Almora Jr., who supplied all of the Cubs’ offense in a Game 1 loss, returns to the starting lineup and will bat fifth.With Jay in left field, Almora in center and Heyward in right, manager Joe Maddon has his top defensive set in the outfield.

Left-handed veteran Jon Lester gets the start for the Cubs.

Cubs lineup:

Jon Jay LF

Kris Bryant 3B

Anthony Rizzo 1B

Willson Contreras C

Albert Almora CF

Addison Russell SS

Jason Heyward RF

Javy Baez 2B

Jon Lester P

Dodgers lineup:

Chris Taylor CF

Justin Turner 3B

Cody Bellinger 1B

Kike Hernandez LF

Logan Forsythe 2B

Austin Barnes C

Yasiel Puig RF

Charlie Culberson SS

Rich Hill P

The Dodgers defeated the Cubs 5-2 in Game 1 Saturday. Since the league championship series expanded to seven games 31 years ago, winning Game 1 has been significant, with the winning team owning a 22-9 record. The last team to win the NLCS despite losing Game 1 was the Giants in 2012, who defeated the Cardinals in seven games.

Lester was 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA over two starts in the 2016 NLCS, won by the Cubs in six games. He was the winning pitcher in Game 5 at Dodger Stadium, allowing one run on five hits and one walk with six strikeouts over seven innings in the Cubs’ 8-4 victory.