Travis Wood and three other relievers combined for seven ideal innings after Hammel left, and the Chicago Cubs one-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0.
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Chicago’s Hammel exited after his right hamstring cramped while warming up for the third inning.
Before this stretch, his longest outing this season was 6 2/3 innings. And manager Dave Roberts would not commit to keeping him in the rotation.
That final category is where Hendricks (3-4, 2.93 ERA) gets the short end of the stick among fellow starters Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel, John Lackey and Jon Lester, getting just 16 runs when he’s been on the mound over nine starts. He held the Dodgers to two hits and four walks; one of the hits was a swinging-bunt single by Yasmani Grandal. “It was just one of those games”. With two outs and the bases loaded, Justin Turner entered the game as a pinch hitter.
The Dodgers arrived at their Chicago hotel at 3:30 a.m. following a 4-2 win over the Mets in NY on Sunday night.
“That was a flawless slot for him tonight to attempt to not beat up the rest of your bullpen”, Maddon said. His fastball velocity was up markedly, and he threw 61 of 87 pitches for strikes. “He set that whole game up”.
The Dodgers came alive against the Cubs bullpen and would score two in the top of the eighth inning. Joe Blanton (3-2) struck out three in two flawless innings before Adam Liberatore struck out one in a ideal ninth as the Dodgers snapped the Cubs’ six-game winning streak. He has converted 20 straight save opportunities dating back to August 14. He faces Corey Kluber (4-5), who has won his last two starts and allowed three earned runs over his last 14 innings. Los Angeles (27-25) saw a two-game winning streak snapped.
Arrieta was spectacular as always going 7 innings and allowing 2 hits.
Mike Leake (4-4) allowed five hits, walked one and struck out four over six innings for his fourth win in the last five starts.
Ben Zobrist is 1 for 7 in the regular season against Kazmir, but has hit safely in a career high-tying 16 straight games and is batting.458 in his last 23.
Kansas City again left it late for victory as Lorenzon Cain drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and Eric Hosmer made the result safe with a three-run homer, leading the Royals to a 6-2 win against Tampa Bay.
A member of the Dodgers training staff checked on Kazmir at one point during Tuesday’s game, but the pitcher said he was dealing with a callous on his hand – not the thumb injury.
NOTES: Heavy rains hit much of the Chicago area on Tuesday but mostly avoided Wrigley Field. “I just wanted to give him (Thompson) another day and give C.C.an opportunity”, Roberts said. “C.C.is a quick healer”.
Hopes for another Arrieta no-hitter against the Dodgers ended quickly as the game’s third batter – Gonzalez – laced a two-out single to center in the first.
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Dexter Fowler is 1 for 9 against Kazmir, but could have a chance to improve on those numbers after sitting Monday with a sore heel.
