Closer Kenley Jansen pitched a ideal ninth inning with one strikeout for this 39th save, ensuring that the Dodgers would remain two games ahead of the second-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West.Los Angeles kept left-hander Jon Lester from getting his 15th victory.
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“We made a mental mistake at second and it costs us”, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.
Saturday, they got some excellent bullpen work from Rob Zastryzny, who was summoned to relieve an obviously-exasperated Jason Hammel in the third inning.
TORONTO (AP) – Melvin Upton Jr. hit an RBI triple and continued home on a misplay in the eighth inning, completing AL East-leading Toronto’s rally from a five-run deficit. He is winless in eight games (five starts) at Dodger Stadium. He struggled in relief at Coors Field, but since then he’s allowed one earned run in his last 13.2 innings. “I barely threw 40 pitches”, said Hammel, who tossed 39 pitches and was a victim of a quick hook at times past year. “It was a side day for me pretty much”. “There’s nothing wrong with me mechanically”. The Cubs are now 16-18 in one-run games, and the last time they scored fewer than two runs was on July 30, during a 4-1 loss to the Mariners. He retired 12 of the first 14 batters, eight on strikeouts (including six consecutive batters at one point), and held the Cubs scoreless on two hits and two walks while striking out eight in his five innings. Bryant, who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, tagged Dodgers LHP Adam Liberatore (2-1) after Dexter Fowler singled to start the inning.
Kenley Jansen pitched a flawless ninth for his 38th save a day after allowing a run on a wild pitch in the ninth in a 6-4, 10-inning loss. The Dodgers picked up a much needed win Saturday and also ended a two game skid behind a solid performance on the mound. Kris Bryant began the inning with a double to right-center field and moved to third on Anthony Rizzo’s ground out before Zobrist walked.
In New York, rookie Gary Sanchez kept up a most remarkable run, homering for the third straight game to help the Yankees rout Baltimore.
Despite blowing his sixth save of the season, Jansen struck out two to surpass Jim Brewer for most strikeouts by a reliever in Dodgers franchise history with 606.
Cubs: RHP John Lackey (right shoulder strain) will throw a bullpen session on Monday in Chicago.
New Dodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz went 1 for 3 with a walk and was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat after being acquired Thursday from the Phillies for catcher A.J. Ellis, a popular and well-regarded player in the clubhouse. He’s on the DL with right wrist irritation after being out almost two months earlier in the season with low back irritation.
Manager Dave Roberts had said earlier this week when asked about why Brock Stewart was starting against the Cubs today that Stewart gave the Dodgers the best chance to win. LHP Clayton Kershaw (mild disc irritation) will face hitters in a simulated game on Tuesday in Los Angeles, Rancho Cucamonga or Arizona. The 24-year-old right-hander has appeared in three games (two starts) with the team this season, going 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA. He has gone 5-0 in his last six starts and has limited opposing hitters to a.226 average.
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Dodgers: RHP Brock Stewart (0-2, 11.25) makes his third career major league start after being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday.
