NLCS Game 4: Cubs offense erupts to even series with Dodgers
The Chicago Cubs offense is alive and well. After being shutout in consecutive postseason games for the first time in franchise history, the Cubs bounced back to destroy the Dodgers 10-2 in a much-needed Game 4 breakout. The win evens the series at 2-2, setting up a pivotal Game 5 Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.
The Cubs scoreless innings streak reached 21, but it was snapped convincingly by a four-run fourth inning rally. Chicago’s offense peppered Julio Urias with three straight singles leading up to Addison Russell’s slump-busting two-run homer. One inning later, Anthony Rizzo broke his own slump with a solo blast that seemingly opened the floodgates.
The Cubs kept things going in the sixth, adding five more runs. Rizzo’s two-run single served as the dagger.
• After being dropped to eighth in the lineup, Addison Russell snapped an 0-for-12 string and a 1-for-24 postseason slump with a three-hit game. Obviously, the home run was a big moment for him personally. It was even bigger for the Cubs, as it seemed to cement the return of their confidence.
• One guy who seemed to feed off it was Anthony Rizzo. Like Russell, Rizzo entered mired in awful slump (2-for-26 in the postseason). He finished with three hits, including a home run and a big two-run single that blew the game wide open. If both these Cubs are back, the Dodgers might be doomed.
• Mike Montgomery continued a good day for left-handed relievers. After Andrew Miller was named MVP of the ALCS, Montgomery picked up a win with two scoreless innings in relief of John Lackey. He also added a single, which helped fuel the Cubs five-run sixth inning.
• Julio Urias started strong, allowing just one walk the first time through the Cubs lineup. He was unable to navigate it a second time, allowing four runs on four hits before being yanked with two outs in the fourth. The crushing blow was Russell’s home run, but it was already clear he was done fooling Cubs on this night. He’ll slide right back into a relief role once the series returns to Chicago.
• Truth be told, this was a sloppily played game by both teams. The Dodgers took things to another level though with four errors. That included a Joc Pederson throwing error that resulted in two runs scoring on a fly ball. Yasmani Grandal could have been charged with a fifth error on the same play, but the official scorer had a little mercy. The Cubs bats. Not so much.
A controversial call at home plate upended a developing Dodgers rally in the second inning. Adrian Gonzalez was ruled out on a bang-bang tag play after Andrew Toles’ two-out single. Upon review, Gonzalez appeared to get his hand in ahead of Wilson Contreras’ tag. However, the original call of home-plate umpire Angel Hernandez was upheld, leaving the Dodgers frustrated and scoreless. Two innings later, they were playing from behind and never recovered.
• Now that the Cubs offense has bounced back strong, how will Dodgers pitching adjust? We’ll see with Kenta Maeda set to start on Thursday. Maeda was on the ropes early in Game 1 but managed to survive four innings. He’ll certainly need to be better than that and better than Julio Urias was in Game 4 if he hopes to give the Dodgers a chance in Game 5.
• Replay continues to be a topic for all the wrong reasons. Not only are games being delayed too long for seemingly obvious calls, it’s also clear that some calls are still being missed. It’s an issue that’s not going away and needs to be addressed this winter.
Anthony Rizzo’s postseason struggles weren’t limited to this season. This stat put those struggles and his potential breakout into perspective.
#Cubs Anthony Rizzo has three hits in his last three plate appearances.
He had three hits in his previous 39 #postseason plate appearances.
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) October 20, 2016
The Cubs win sets up a pivotal Game 5 on Thursday night. The pitching matchup will be a rematch from Game 1, with veteran left-hander Jon Lester (1-0, 0.64 in postseason) getting the nod for Joe Maddon. He’ll be opposed by Kenta Maeda (0-1, 9.00). The game is set for 8:00 p.m. ET and will air on Fox Sports 1.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
