Dodgers Vs. Cubs Recap: Kemp Provides Run Support For Bullpen
Frias retired the Cubs in order in the fifth, including picking up two strikeouts and the Dodgers added to their lead the following inning. Puig chased a pitch for strike three, however he reached safely on the wild pitch.
Puig then stole second base and it came with a scare as he appeared to injure his ankle in the process of deciding last minute not to slide. Trainer Stan Conte came out to check on Puig, who remained in the game and scored on Matt Kemp’s single to left.
Frias walked the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the fifth and quickly found himself in trouble. Luis Valbuena’s single scored a run and left runners on the corners with no outs. Anthony Rizzo scored from third on Frias’ wild pitch and the Dodger lead was cut to 5-4. With the tying run in scoring position, Frias retired the next three batters and ended the inning with consecutive strikeouts.
Just as quickly as the Dodgers saw their lead diminished, they added to it in the sixth against Cubs reliever Zac Rosscup. Juan Uribe doubled to right-center and scored on Scott Van Slyke’s two-out double down the left field line.
Kemp added to his day in the seventh with an RBI flare single to right field and the Dodgers led 7-4 going to the bottom half of the inning. Chris Perez recorded the first out in the bottom of the seventh, which was his second inning of work and Paco Rodriguez finished the frame.
Pedro Baez labored through the eighth inning in which he gave up a leadoff home run to Welington Castillo, but otherwise kept the Cubs off the bases. Uribe’s RBI single in the ninth tacked on an insurance run and the Dodgers handed Kenley Jansen the ball with an 8-5 lead.
Jansen issued a leadoff walk and Coghlan followed with a double that snuck under Gonzalez’s glove and stayed just fair. Jansen then retired the next three batters to close out the Dodgers’ 8-5 win and they finished 6-4 on their 10-game road trip.
