Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Dodgers Match Player Stats On May 28, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 28, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- The anticipated pitching showdown Sunday between the Chicago Cubs' Jon Lester and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw did not materialize. Instead, both aces were rudely chased out of the game by the fifth inning.

The teams played power ball, combining for seven home runs, including four by the Dodgers that accounted for all of their runs in a 9-4 win at Dodger Stadium that completed a three-game sweep of the reigning World Series champions.

The Dodgers shut out the Cubs in the first two games of the series.

Cody Bellinger and Enrique Hernandez each hit a three-run homer, Austin Barnes hit a solo shot, and Yasiel Puig put the game away with a two-run blast in the seventh inning.

The Cubs received solo home runs from Javier Baez and Willson Contreras and a two-run blast from Anthony Rizzo. Chicago also scored all of its runs via the long ball.

Kershaw had his worst outing of the season, allowing 11 hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings. There were a few bloop and broken-bat hits among the 11, but there was no denying it was a dud by the Dodgers ace.

But Lester matched it. The Cubs left-hander allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings. The Dodgers' three-run blasts came at his expense.

The Dodgers' bullpen picked up for Kershaw. Josh Fields (2-0), Sergio Romo and Adam Liberatore retired 10 straight Cubs after Kershaw left. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth in a non-save situation. Los Angeles relievers allowed no runs or hits and one walk in 4 2/3 innings.

Fields did the best work. He inherited a two-on, one-out situation in the fifth and struck out Baez and Kris Bryant on high fastballs.

NOTES: The win was the Dodgers' ninth in their last 11 games. They went 8-2 on their just-completed homestand. The Dodgers are 21-8 at home this year. ... Chicago came to L.A. having won seven of nine but were swept by the Dodgers in a series for the first time since 2012. ... The Dodgers rested several starters with LHP Jon Lester starting -- C Yasmani Grandal, 1B Adrian Gonzales and slumping Yasiel Puig. The latter, however, pinch-hit for Franklin Gutierrez in the bottom of the first after Gutierrez got hurt running for a popup in the top of the inning. Puig had a single in addition to his home run. ... Dodgers CF Chris Taylor, who had recently assumed the leadoff spot with his hot May, batted third in the order for the first time in his career. ... 2B Javier Baez was back in the Cubs' lineup at second base. Rookie Ian Happ started in left and hit cleanup. Happ was the only Cub who struggled against Kershaw, striking out three times.