FINAL: Dodgers beat Cubs 6-1, hold 3-0 series lead

Tom Ricketts was praying for something as a camera panned to him before Alex Avila stepped to the plate.

Facing Ross Stripling who was a fresh arm, Avila singled to left field.

Albert Almora Jr. hit a ground-rule double. But things got slightly confusing after Almora rounded to third and Avila was still standing there. Justin Turner tagged both of them out.

Since it was a ground-rule double because the ball was hit into the ivy, Almora returned to second and Avila stayed on third.

With two on and no outs, Addison Russell sends his bat flying and a Cubs fan got a free souvenir. Russell ended up popping out to the infield and runners stayed put.

Kenley Jensen struck out Tommy LaStella.

The momentum of the inning quickly changed. With two on and two out, Ian Happ was the Cubs last hope.

But Happ strikes out swinging.

Dodgers beat Cubs 6-1 and hold a three-game lead in this best-of-seven series.

Jake Arrieta will get the ball for the Cubs Wednesday night, and the Dodgers will counter with Alex Wood.

Justin Turner grounded out to Kris Bryant.

Yasiel Puig called out sliding into second base.

Enrique Hernandez singles, but was ultimately caught stealing second base.

Dodgers 6, Cubs 1

Up next: Alex Avila, Hector Rondon, Addison Russell

It’s do or die time for the Cubs.

Ben Zobrist grounded out to start the bottom of the 8th inning. He’s 0-for-4 Tuesday with one strikeout.

Kyle Schwarber takes a walk.

Kris Bryant started the night off solid, hitting two singles, but his last two at-bats have ended in outs. He lined one to left fielder Enrique Hernandez.

Anthony Rizzo also hasn’t found any offensive luck. He struck out to end the eighth inning and is 1-for-4 with two strikeouts Tuesday night.

Dodgers 6, Cubs 1

Up next: Justin Turner, Yasiel Puig, Enrique Hernandez

Although many Cubs fans have started exiting Wrigley Field, Miguel Montero still has faith in his old team.

With Hector Rondon on the mound, Chris Taylor grounds out to a force out for Charlie Culberson.

Two outs and one on, Rondon strikes out Cody Bellinger to end the inning.

Dodgers 6, Cubs 1

Up next: Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant

Interesting fact brought to you by Gordon Wittenmyer:

Cubs in 8 games (so far):

• 23 walks issued
• 9 errors
• 5 unearned runs allowed
• 21 runs scores (9 in one game)

Mike Montgomery opened up the eighth by walking Logan Forsythe.

Austin Barnes, who is 0-for-2 with a walk in Tuesday’s game, got a single to right field.

Charlie Culberson replaced Joc Pederson to pinch hit. A wild pitch from Montgomery advanced the runners to third and second with no outs.

The Dodgers were awarded one run after a wild pitch hit Willson Contreras in his elbow and went into the Dodgers’ dugout.

Dodgers 5, Cubs 1

Kyle Farmer hits a sacrifice fly to centerfield and gets a RBI.

Dodgers 6, Cubs 1

Cubs replace Montgomery with Hector Rondon.

Javy Baez, who is 0-for-19 this postseason, replaced Jason Heyward in the lineup. He popped out to Cody Bellinger to record the second out of the inning.

Ian Happ wasn’t able to help the Cubs either. He struck out for the fourth time this postseason.

Dodgers 4, Cubs 1

Up next: Chase Utley, Austin Barnes, Joc Pederson

Yu Darvish started the seventh by striking out Addison Russell. That was the second time this game Darvish started an inning by striking out a Cub.

Dave Roberts visited the mound and replaced Darvish with Tony Watson.

Darvish’s line: 6 1/3 innings, six hits, one error, seven strikeouts and one walk.

Joe Maddon pulled a double switch by replacing Carl Edwards Jr. with Pedro Strop after one inning and putting Ian Happ in centerfield for Jon Jay.

What appeared to be an easy out turned into a double. Cody Bellinger popped one up to centerfield, Happ wasn’t able to pull the ball down. As he crashed into the ivy, he dropped the ball and Bellinger went to second base.

Strop walked Justin Turner and Cubs fans buried their faces in their hands.

With two on and no outs, Yasiel Puig grounded out into a double play as Bellinger advanced to third.

Strop was able to end the inning unscathed after Andre Ethier grounded out.

Cue the seventh inning stretch and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

Dodgers 4, Cubs 1

Up next: Addison Russell, Jason Heyward, Ian Happ

Anthony Rizzo singled.

Yu Darvish struck out Willson Contreras.

Jon Jay grounded out into a double play to end the inning.

Dodgers 4, Cubs 1

Up next: Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, Yasiel Puig

With Carl Edwards Jr. was able to get out of a dangerous jam after sending a Dodger home on a walk.

Chase Utley bunted toward the mound. Edwards Jr. was barely able to get Utley out at first, and runners advanced to third.

Austin Barnes drew a walk to load the bases with only one out.

Joc Pederson flew out to Jason Heyward and all three runners held their place.

With two outs and bases loaded, Contreras spoke to Edwards Jr. after he threw a ball to Yu Darvish.

That catcher and pitcher meeting didn’t help Edwards Jr. zone in. He walked Darvish, sending Utley home.

Interesting fact: Yu Darvish was the first pitcher to be walked with bases loaded in a postseason game since Larry Christenson for the Phillies against the Dodgers in the 1977 NLCS.

Dodgers 4, Cubs 1

Edwards Jr. fanned Chris Taylor to end the inning.

Up next: Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras, Jon Jay

Things aren’t going well for the Cubs.

Kris Bryant opened up the sixth inning with a fielding error, which helped Yasiel Puig to first base. And then, Andre Ethier hit a single to centerfield.

With two on and no outs in the sixth, Kyle Hendricks handed the ball to Joe Maddon as he signaled to the bullpen. Carl Edwards Jr. will inherit runners on first and second.

Hendrick’s line: 5 innings, 6 hits, 3 errors, 5 strikeouts and one walk.

Dodgers 3, Cubs 0

Yu Darvish started the fifth inning by striking out Cubs leadoff hitter Ben Zobrist.

Kyle Schwarber, who got the Cubs on the board first by hitting a home run in the first inning, grounded out to Cody Bellinger.

Kris Bryant, who recorded flew out to left field to end the fifth inning.

Darvish’s line through five innings: five hits, one error, one walk and five strikeouts.

Dodgers 3, Cubs 1

Up next: Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, Chase Utley

Joc Pederson hits a leadoff doubled after hitting the ball into the right field corner.

Yu Darvish grounded out. But at the top of the Dodgers lineup is Chris Taylor, who hit a RBI triple into the left field corner. Pederson scores with one out.

Anthony Rizzo connected with Willson Contreras to get Taylor out at home and let Cody Bellinger reach first.

With one on and two out, Justin Turner flew out to Jason Heyward in right field.

Dodgers 3, Cubs 1

Up next: Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant

In the meantime, check out this picture of Addison Russell making an insane grab to end the top of the fourth inning.

After Willson Contreras and Jon Jay both grounded out to the infield, Addison Russell was able to get on base with a soft hit that trickled down the foul line but remained fair.

Jason Heyward drew the walk.

With two on and two out, Kyle Hendricks struck out for the second time Tuesday night.

Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

Up next: Joc Pederson, Yu Darvish, Chris Taylor

Kyle Hendricks followed up Yasiel Puig’s leadoff single to left field with two consecutive strike outs.

Andre Ethier and Chase Utley both leave home plate empty handed.

Addison Russell had to backpedal to make an impressive grab off of Austin Barnes soft pop up.

Hendricks line through four innings: Three hits, two errors, one walk, five strike outs and two home runs.

Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

Up next: Willson Contreras, Jon Jay, Addison Russell

After two quick outs with Ben Zobrist and Kyle Schwarber both grounding out, Kris Bryant was able to find the sweet, open spot in centerfield to get on base. Bryant is now 2-for-2 on the night after an 0-for-4 outing in Game 2 in Los Angeles.

But Anthony Rizzo isn’t able to advance Bryant. He grounds out to Cody Bellinger.

Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

Up next: Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, Chase Utley

The Dodgers take the lead in the third inning.

After Kyle Hendricks strikes out Yu Darvish, Chris Taylor comes in clutch for the Dodgers with a home run — his second this post season.

But that’s all the Dodgers got in the third inning. Cody Bellinger flew out to Kyle Schwarber in left field and Justin Turner grounded out to Kris Bryant.

Interesting note: The Cubs have scored first with a home run in every game this series. Albert Almora Jr. hit one against Clayton Kershaw. Addison Russell got one off of Rich Hill and Kyle Schwarber off of Yu Darvish Tuesday night. Despite the Cubs getting on the board first, their lead hasn’t lasted longer than seven Dodgers batters.

Kyle Hendricks pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game three of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 17, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

Up next: Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant.

Yu Darvish pulled off a quick 1-2-3 inning.

Addison Russell popped out to Cody Bellinger and Jason Heyward flew out to right field. Kyle Hendricks struck out swinging.

Cubs 1, Dodgers 1

Up next: Yu Darvish, Chris Taylor, Cody Bellinger

Well, it was fun while it lasted.

Andre Ethier hit a leadoff home run. Game is tied 1-1.

Luckily for the Cubs, the Dodgers weren’t able to amount to anything the rest of the inning. Chase Utley flew out to Jon Jay in centerfield; Austin Barnes grounded out to Ben Zobrist; and Kyle Hendricks struck out Joc Pederson.

Cubs 1, Dodgers 1

Up next: Addison Russell, Jason Heyward, Kyle Hendricks

Kyle Schwarber got the Cubs rolling.

After Ben Zobrist grounded out, Schwarber made Yu Darvish pitch look like batting practice and hit a home run.

Kris Bryant, who went 0-for-4 against the Dodgers Sunday night, hit a single. But Anthony Rizzo left Bryant alone at first after striking out.

With two outs, Willson Contreras hit a base hit to right field, advancing Bryant to second base.

Jon Jay up to bat with two on, two out. But Darvish is able to get Jay out swinging.

Cubs 1, Dodgers 0

Up next: Andre Ethier, Chase Utley, Austin Barnes.

Kyle Hendricks kept his composure at the top of the first inning. With two out and none on, Justin Turner was able to draw the walk.

Yasiel Puig hit a ball that looked like it belonged on Waveland Avenue, but it was just left of the left field foul pole. Hendricks was able to strike Puig out to end the inning unscathed.

The first two outs happened like this: Chris Taylor led off the game for the Dodgers with a ground out to Kris Bryant. Cody Bellinger popped out to Willson Contreras, who made a leaning catch at the Cubs dugout.

Cubs 0, Dodgers 0 heading into the bottom of the first inning.

Up next: Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant.

Despite the Dodgers 2-0 lead in the NLCS, Joe Maddon is confident in his team can turn the moment of the series around starting Tuesday night.

“Listen, we’ve been here before, man. Our guys know what it’s like. Right down to this season,” Maddon said before Tuesday’s game. “Even at the All-Star break. The Milwaukee series. We’ve been around the block a couple times. Let’s see what happens tonight.”

Kerry Wood threw out the first pitch of the game, while John Vincent got the crowd hyped by singing the national anthem. Vincent broke his previous “Land of the Free” record of 24 seconds, holding the note this time for 26.5 seconds.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon mixed up his lineup for Game 3 of the NLCS Tuesday, inserting Ben Zobrist at second base for the slumping Javy Baez and batting Kyle Schwarber second while moving Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo down one spot against Dodgers right-hander Yu Darvish.

The Cubs have been limited by lefties Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and a vaunted Dodgers bullpen to three runs in the first two games of the best-of-seven series and trail two games to none.

Baez is 0-for-19 in the postseason. In franchise history, only Jimmy Sheckard in 1906 had a longer streak of hitless at-bats to open a postseason (21).

The wind was blowing out at Wrigley Field Tuesday afternoon, possibly setting the stage for a good night for the hitters.

Jon Jay is in center field and Jason Heyward in right for the Cubs.

Kyle Hendricks is on the mound for the Cubs, whose starting pitchers have posted a 1.98 ERA in seven postseason games.

Game time is 8 p.m. (TBS, 670-AM).

The Cubs lineup:

Ben Zobrist 2B

Kyle Schwarber LF

Kris Bryant 3B

Anthony Rizzo 1B

Willson Contreras C

Jon Jay CF

Addison Russell SS

Jason Heyward RF

Kyle Hendricks P

The Dodgers, who swept the Diamondbacks in three games in the NLDS, are on a five-game winning streak to start the postseason and are well-positioned to advance to their first World Series since 1988. Since the League Championship Series expanded to seven games in 1985, only three of the 28 teams that lost the first two games came back to win: the Royals over the Blue Jays in 1985 (seven games), the Cardinals over the Dodgers in 1985 (six games) and the Red Sox over the Yankees in 2004 (seven games).

Dodgers lineup:

Taylor SS

Bellinger 1B

Turner 3B

Puig RF

Ethier LF

Utley 2B

Barnes C

Pederson CF

Darvish P