Recap: Justin Turner’s 3-Run Home Run Helps Lead Dodgers To Win
After Ethier reached on an infield single Hendricks got out of the inning on an unconventional double play. Yasmani Grandal hit a chopper that pulled Rizzo off first base and roughly one-third of the way toward second base.
Ethier hesitated so that he would avoid possibly being struck by the ball and it allowed Rizzo to field it, apply the tag and throw over to Hendricks at first base for the inning-ending double play.
With the Cubs still trailing 4-0, Kris Bryant led off the bottom of the fourth and struck out swinging. Miguel Montero reached on a base hit to right field, then was out on a force play at second base behind a nice play by Jimmy Rollins.
The veteran shortstop made a diving stop on a ball hit to his right, managed to regain control of the ball as it popped out of his glove and fired over to second base. Hernandez nearly turned a double play as Castro fell to one knee on his swing and was slow up the line. Chris Coghlan extended the inning by drawing a two-out walk before Bolsinger got Szczur to ground into a force out.
Going through the Cubs lineup a third time in the game meant trouble for Bolsinger in the bottom of the fifth. Mike Baxter’s leadoff single was followed by a Russell RBI double to left field that cut the Dodgers’ lead to 4-1. Chris Denorfia knocked a base hit to right field that left runners on the corners with no outs.
Bolsinger limited the damage by trading a run for two outs as Rizzo grounded into a double play. However, the right-hander then walked Bryant, who was the last batter he faced. J.P. Howell came on in relief of Bolsinger and was forced to a full count before striking out Montero swinging.
After James Russell retired the Dodgers in order in the top of the sixth, including striking out Turner and Gonzalez, Howell remained in the game for the home half of the inning. He retired the first two batters faced, then his throw pulled Gonzalez off the bag on a bunt single by Szczur.
Dexter Fowler pinch-hit for Russell and grounded to Gonzalez to end the inning. Justin Grimm took over for the Cubs in the seventh and struck out the side, beginning with getting Guerrero to chase a pitch out of the zone. Ethier also went down swinging while Grandal was called out on strikes.
Joel Peralta entered in the bottom of the seventh for his second appearance since being reinstated from the 15-day disabled list Monday. Peralta fared much better than Tuesday’s game when he allowed the Cubs to the bases with no outs in the 10th. He this time recorded two quick outs before turning the ball over to Adam Liberatore, who walked Rizzo on four pitches.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly immediately brought the hook for Liberatore and called on Juan Nicasio out of the bullpen. Nicasio got ahead 0-2 against Bryant, then saw his third pitch singled up the middle. Representing the go-ahead run, Montero flied out to left bringing the inning to an end with the Cubs still trailing, 4-2.
Scott Van Slyke, who entered with Peralta as part of a double switch in the seventh, ripped a one-out double to left in the eighth inning. Grimm recorded a second out in the eighth then was replaced by Edwin Jackson. Facing his former club, the right-hander gave up an RBI single to Pederson that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 5-2.
Nicasio erased a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth by getting Szczur to bounce into a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play. Alberto Callaspo reached on a pinch-hit single in the ninth, but the Dodgers failed to add to their lead.
Kenley Jansen came on in the bottom of the ninth and closed the win out, ending the Dodgers’ two-game losing streak. Van Slyke ended the game by throwing out Denorfia on his attempt to stretch a single to a double. The Cubs challenged the call, which was upheld after a three-minute and 15-second review.
[divide]Justin Turner Downplays Batting Third
