Entering Saturday night’s National League Championship Series opener as a pinch hitter with two out and bases loaded in the eighth inning, Montero launched an 0-2 pitch from reliever Joe Blanton for a grand slam home run as the Cubs rolled to an 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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CHICAGO If only the Dodgers could intentionally walk destiny.
Kershaw last started Tuesday in Los Angeles, on short rest in Game 4 of the NLDS, but pitched in relief to close out the fifth and deciding game of that series Thursday in Washington.
Sure, Madison Bumgarner doesn’t stand in the way of the Cubs winning their first World Series since 1908 any more, but Clayton Kershaw and the ultra-talented Los Angeles Dodgers are no joke, either.
Javier Baez steals home on Saturday night.
“There were how many line drives”.
Game 3, ALCS: Cleveland Indians 2, Toronto Blue Jays 1 (Indians lead series, 2-0).
“The craziest game I’ve ever been a part of”, a downcast Scherzer said. But, you know what? “We know we can beat them”. In two games against them in 2016, Lester has thrown 15 innings and given up just one run.
In Game 4, John Lackey only gave the Cubs four innings and gave up three runs on seven hits.
Will Mike Montgomery be the Andrew Miller of this series?
Chapman, as usual, was absolutely ridiculous; 16 of his 17 pitches were 100 miles per hour or faster.
As much as I love Clayton Kershaw and respect Dave Roberts for leading his injury-riddled team this far in the playoffs, it’s hard to go against the Cubs at this point. Three of them, all over 100 miles per hour. Grandal, Seager, Justin Turner and Pederson gave the Dodgers four players with 25 or more home runs for the fourth time in franchise history and first since 1997.
While the Dodgers are scrambling to figure out their rotation, the Cubs have had their staff set for a while now, and it’s impressive. “It’s been a little bit since we got to do this, and Wrigley Field, it’s going to be pretty exciting”.
Too bad much of the nation surely had dozed off by the time it ended.
The play was started when Ruiz attempted to pick Baez off at third.
Baez flied to right. He won’t take Aroldis Chapman’s job, but if a game goes to extra innings, Maddon must feel confident Lester is a guy he could go to. Dodgers have struggled against left-handed pitching all year and figure to face Lester twice if series goes five games.
Can they become their best selves at the right time? .
Maddon went to Montero, who was 2 for 11 in his career against Blanton (including 0 for 2 this season) and Blanton jumped ahead 0 and 2 with a pair of sliders.
Baez flied to right, and lefty swinging Chris Coghlan hit for righty David Ross, and Roberts made a decision to intentionally walk him to load the bases – bringing up Chapman’s spot in the batting order.
“Yeah, I’m not going in with any restrictions or – yeah, there’s no – no excuses at this point”, Kershaw said. They are constantly working counts, getting into good hitters’ counts, getting on base.
“We’re going to fight until the end”, Gonzalez said. Game one was all about the bullpen, throwing four scoreless innings.
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“It was not good overall”, Maeda said through a team interpreter.
