Kluber, Perez, Indians beat Cubs 6-0 in World Series opener

CLEVELAND (AP) — Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians are off to a pitch-perfect start in the World Series.

The Chicago Cubs, meanwhile, fell completely flat in their first appearance since 1945.

Kluber dominated into the seventh inning, Roberto Perez had four RBIs with a pair of home runs and the Indians beat the Cubs 6-0 in Tuesday night's opener of a highly anticipated matchup between the teams with baseball's longest championship droughts.

"It's almost like you have that extra level of intensity," said Kluber, who became the first Series pitcher to strike out eight batters in the first three innings.

AL Championship Series MVP Andrew Millerescaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the seventh and stranded runners at the corners the eighth, preserving a three-run lead and delighting the sellout crowd of 38,091 in Cleveland's first-ever Series home opener.

"The atmosphere in the World Series is so great," Miller said. "You can't help but get caught up in it and enjoy it."

The Indians pitched their fourth shutout in nine games this postseason. After stifling two dangerous lineups in Boston and Toronto during the AL playoffs, Cleveland shut down a hard-hitting Cubs team that scored 23 runs against the Dodgers in the final three games of the NLCS.

Back in the Series for the first time since 1997, the Indians scored twice in the first off October ace Jon Lester.

Perez hit a fourth-inning solo shot and added a three-run drive in the eighth against Hector Rondon, becoming the first Cleveland player and the only No. 9 batter to homer twice in a Series game.

"Oh, I don't think I've ever had a night like that," Perez said.

He has three home runs in 27 at-bats during the postseason after hitting three in 153 during the regular season.

"I've come a long ways," Perez said,

Francisco Lindor added three hits as the Indians improved to 8-1 this postseason. Cleveland manager Terry Francona is 9-0 in the Series, including sweeps by his Boston teams in 2004 and '07.

The Game 1 winner has taken the title in the last six Series and 17 of 19.

"I have no concerns," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "It's the first game. I'm fine. We're fine."

Trevor Bauer, trying to come back from a sliced pinkie caused by a freak drone accident, starts Game 2 for the Indians on Wednesday night against Jake Arrieta. Because the forecast called for an increased chance of rain later in the evening, Major League Baseball took the extraordinary step of moving up the first pitch by an hour to 7:08 p.m.

Kluber painted the corners, and 24 of his 59 strikes were called by plate umpire Larry Vanover. Twelve batters were caught looking, including seven Cubs.

"I think his ball was moving too much today," said Perez, Cleveland's catcher. "We got guys off balance the whole night."

Kluber combined with Miller and Cody Allen to fan 15 — two shy of the Series record for a nine-inning game — and Chicago went 2 for 15 with 10 strikeouts with runners on base.

With the Indians hoping for their first title since 1948 and the Cubs seeking their first since 1908, Lester stumbled in the opening inning.

He entered 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA in three Series starts and got his first two outs on five pitches before Cleveland loaded the bases with two outs. Jose Ramirez had a run-scoring swinging bunt single and Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch — he led the majors with 31 during the regular season.

"There is an importance on small ball, but you can't try to hit a swinging bunt. That's a little bit of good fortune," Francona said. "Then Guyer got hit, which he is really good at."

Perez connected in the fourth for a 3-0 lead.

"When you're going against a guy like Kluber who's locked in from pitch one, to give up two in the first, that makes it tough," Lester said.

Teams that combined for 174 seasons of futility, America's biggest droughts since the Great Plains' Dust Bowl of the 1930s, captivated even many non-baseball fans.

On a night of civic pride, LeBron James and the NBA's Cavaliers received their championship rings next door prior to their season opener, and Cleveland hosted a World Series opener for the first time.

The Cubs had not played in the Series since five weeks after Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender ending World War II.

Kluber, whose win in the All-Star Game gave the AL home-field advantage in the Series, improved to 3-1 in the postseason and lowered his ERA to a sparkling 0.74.

He was pitching on six days' rest, and his two-seam fastball darted through the strike zone. Kluber struck out nine in six innings and walked none.

Kyle Schwarber, making a surprise return in his first big league game since tearing knee ligaments on April 7, doubled off the right-field wall in the fourth — a drive kept in by a stiff wind on a 50-degree night. Kluber then got Javier Baez to fly out.

Zobrist's leadoff double in the seventh finished Kluber, and Cleveland loaded the bases with no outs against Miller on Schwarber's walk and Baez's single. Pinch-hitter Willson Contreras flied to Rajai Davis in short center, and Davis threw home rather than double up Schwarber, who had strayed far off second.

Using his intimidating slider, Miller struck out Addison Russell and David Ross to escape the jam, stranded runners at the corners in the eighth by fanning Schwarber with his 46th pitch, his most in five years. Miller has thrown 20 scoreless innings in postseason play, including 13 2/3 innings with 24 strikeouts this year.

Allen worked the ninth to close it out.

Ramirez also had three hits each for the Indians, who beat Toronto in the ALCS despite hitting just .168. Zobrist had three hit for the Cubs.

Lester gave up three runs, six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. He was rattled by Vanover's calls, barking at the umpire in the third, then stopping for a discussion at the inning's end.

"I'm confident. I know our guys are, too," Schwarber said. "We put up good at-bats against those guys today. We just didn't come up with a knock when we needed to."

UP NEXT

While Arrieta went 18-8 with a 3.10 ERA during the regular season, he struggled to a 5.01 ERA in his final four starts. He allowed four runs over five innings in Game 3 of the NLCS.

Bauer lasted only two outs in his ALCS when his pinkie began bleeding.

THEY'RE BACK

Dexter Fowler took a called third strike from Kluber leading off the game, becoming the first Cubs player to bat in the Series since Don Johnson hit into a game-ending forceout against Detroit's Hal Newhouser in Game 7 in 1945.

TAKE A SEAT

Chicago benched right fielder Jason Heyward, in a 2-for-28 postseason slump, and started Chris Coghlan.

D-backs name Amiel Sawdaye as senior vice president and assistant general manager

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) named Amiel Sawdaye (Ah-me-el Saw-day) as Senior Vice President & Assistant General Manager, as announced by Executive Vice President & General Manager Mike Hazen.

"I'm excited Amiel is joining our team." said Hazen. "His experience on the scouting side is evident in his track record of finding talented core players."
 
"I appreciate the D-backs giving me this opportunity," said Sawdaye. "I look forward to continuing to work with Mike and share his vision for bringing this franchise success. I also thank the Boston Red Sox for the opportunities afforded me along with great memories."
 
Sawdaye, 39, worked with Hazen in Boston from 2006-2016. Overall, he spent 15 seasons with the Red Sox from 2002-16, most recently as Vice President, Amateur and International Scouting since January 2015. As Director, Amateur Scouting from 2010-14, he oversaw the drafts that secured Matt Barnes, Mookie Betts, Henry Owens, Travis Shaw, Blake Swihart, and Brandon Workman.
 
His other roles with the Red Sox include Assistant Director, Amateur Scouting (2005-2009), Scouting Assistant (2004) and Baseball Operations Intern (2002-03).
 
The Baltimore native graduated from the University of Maryland in 1999 with a degree in decisions information systems.
 
Sawdaye and his wife, Danielle, have 2 daughters, Lily and Mia, and a son, Max.

Cleveland Indians set World Series roster

The Cleveland Indians have set their 25-man roster in advance of the start of the 112th World Series tonight against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field.

The Cubs and Indians play the first two games of the World Series tonight and tomorrow night in Cleveland before the series moves to Wrigley Field for Game Three on Friday, October 28, Game Four on Saturday, October 29 and Game Five (if necessary) on Sunday, October 30. The clubs would return to Cleveland for Games Six and Seven (if necessary) November 1-2.

From the previous round, RHP Danny Salazar has replaced RHP Cody Anderson on the Indians' roster.

PITCHERS (12/1)
37: Allen, Cody -- 6-1, 210 -- 11/20/88 -- Orlando, FL
47: Bauer, Trevor -- 6-1, 190 -- 1/17/91 -- North Hollywood, CA
52: Clevinger, Mike -- 6-4, 202 -- 12/21/90 -- Jacksonville, FL
28: Kluber, Corey -- 6-4, 215 -- 4/10/86 -- Birmingham, AL
53: Manship, Jeff -- 6-2, 205 -- 1/16/85 -- San Antonio, TX
34: McAllister, Zach -- 6-6, 240 -- 12/8/87 -- Chillicothe, IL
54: Merritt, Ryan -- 6-0, 170 -- 2/21/92 -- McKinney, TX
24: Miller, Andrew -- 6-7, 205 -- 5/21/85 -- Gainesville, FL
61: Otero, Dan -- 6-3, 215 -- 2/19/85 -- Miami, FL
31: Salazar, Danny -- 6-0, 190 -- 1/11/90 -- Santo Domingo, DR
27: Shaw, Bryan -- 6-1, 210 -- 11/8/87 -- Livermore, CA
43: Tomlin, Josh -- 6-1, 190 -- 10/19/84 -- Tyler, TX

CATCHERS (2):   
10: Gomes, Yan -- 6-2, 215 -- 7/19/87 -- Sao Paulo, Brazil
55: Perez, Roberto -- 5-11, 225 -- 12/23/88 -- Mayaguez, PR

INFIELDERS (6):
22: Kipnis, Jason -- 5-11, 190 -- 4/3/87 -- Northbrook, IL
12: Lindor, Francisco -- 5-11, 190 -- 11/14/93 -- Caguas, PR
1:   Martinez, Michael -- 5-9, 180 -- 9/16/82 -- Santo Domingo, DR
26: Napoli, Mike -- 6-1, 225 -- 10/31/81 -- Hollywood, FL
11: Ramirez, Jose -- 5-9, 165 -- 9/17/92 -- Bani, DR
41: Santana, Carlos -- 5-11, 210 -- 4/8/86 -- Santo Domingo, DR

OUTFIELDERS (5/1):
8: Chisenhall, Lonnie -- 6-2, 190 -- 10/4/88 -- Morehead City, NC
4: Crisp, Coco -- 5-10: 185 -- 11/1/79 -- Los Angeles, CA
20: Davis, Rajai -- 5-9, 195 -- 10/19/80 -- East Lyme, CT
6: Guyer, Brandon -- 6-2, 200 -- 1/28/86 -- West Chester, PA
30: Naquin, Tyler -- 6-2, 190 -- 4/24/91 -- Iola, TX  

Chicago Cubs set World Series roster

The Chicago Cubs have set their 25-man roster in advance of the start of the 112th World Series tonight against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

The Cubs and Indians play the first two games of the World Series tonight and tomorrow night in Cleveland before the series moves to Wrigley Field for Game Three on Friday, October 28, Game Four on Saturday, October 29 and Game Five (if necessary) on Sunday, October 30. The clubs would return to Cleveland for Games Six and Seven (if necessary) November 1-2.

Here is a look at the Chicago Cubs World Series roster:

PITCHERS (11)
6-Carl Edwards Jr., RHP
28-Kyle Hendricks, RHP
34-Jon Lester, LHP
37-Travis Wood, LHP
38-Mike Montgomery, LHP
41-John Lackey, RHP
46-Pedro Strop, RHP
49-Jake Arrieta, RHP
52-Justin Grimm, RHP
54-Aroldis Chapman, LHP
56-Hector Rondon, RHP

POSITION PLAYERS (14)
3-David Ross, C
5-Albert Almora Jr., OF
8-Chris Coghlan, OF
9-Javier Baez, INF
12-Kyle Schwarber, OF/C
17-Kris Bryant, INF
18-Ben Zobrist, INF
22-Jason Heyward, OF
24-Dexter Fowler, OF
27-Addison Russell, INF
40-Willson Contreras, C
44-Anthony Rizzo, INF
47-Miguel Montero, C
68-Jorge Soler, OF

Cubs beat Dodgers 5-0 to reach 1st World Series since 1945

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo caught the ball for the final out and Wrigley Field erupted.

"I'm sleeping with this thing tonight," the Chicago Cubs first baseman told the pulsating crowd moments later, kissing the prized souvenir. "Are you kidding me? We're going to the World Series."

Cubs ... World Series? Yes, the Cubbies!

Next up, Game 1 in Cleveland.

With fans chanting, singing and waving those Ws, shaking the century-old ballpark and jamming the streets of Wrigleyville, the Cubs celebrated a moment many of their faithful wondered whether they would ever see.

Kyle Hendricks outpitched Clayton Kershaw, Rizzo and Willson Contreras homered early and the Cubs took their first pennant since 1945, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 Saturday night to win the NL Championship Series in six games.

"Listen to them. Outside before the game was crazy. Inside the game was crazy," Cubs pitcher Jon Lester said.

"These guys have done nothing but support us from Day One. It's been unbelievable to be here and be part of this. Words can't really describe where I'm at right now," he said.

Cursed by a Billy Goat, bedeviled by Bartman and crushed by decades of disappointment, those "Lovable Losers" now have a chance to win it all.

Trying to win their first crown since 1908, manager Joe Maddon's team opens the World Series against Cleveland on Tuesday night.

The Indians haven't won it all since 1948 — Cleveland and Cubs have the two longest title waits in the majors.

"This city deserves it so much," Rizzo said. "We got four more big ones to go, but we're going to enjoy this. We're going to the World Series. I can't even believe that."

All-everything Javier Baez and Lester shared the NLCS MVP. Baez hit .318, drove in five runs and made several sharp plays at second base. Lester, a former World Series champion in Boston, was 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers.

The drought ended when Aroldis Chapman got Yasiel Puig to ground into a double play , setting off a wild celebration. And if they bring home the elusive championship?

"I may make the 'W' a tattoo," said chairman Tom Ricketts , who once lived across the street and met his wife in the bleachers.

Deemed World Series favorites since opening day, the Cubs topped the majors with 103 wins to win the NL Central, then beat the Giants and Dodgers in the playoffs.

The Cubs overcame a 2-1 deficit against the Dodgers and won their 17th pennant. They had not earned a World Series trip since winning a doubleheader opener 4-3 at Pittsburgh on Sept. 29, 1945, to clinch the pennant on the next-to-last day of the season.

The eternal "wait till next year" is over. No more dwelling on a history of failure — the future is now.

"We're too young. We don't care about it," star slugger Kris Bryant said. "We don't look into it. This is a new team, this is a completely different time of our lives. We're enjoying it and our work's just getting started."

Hendricks pitched two-hit ball for 7 1/3 innings . Chapman took over and closed with hitless relief, then threw both arms in the air as he was mobbed by teammates and coaches.

The Dodgers sent the minimum 27 batters to the plate and no one got past first base.

The Cubs shook off back-to-back shutout losses earlier in this series by pounding the Dodgers for 23 runs to win the final three games.

And they were in no way overwhelmed by the moment on Saturday, putting aside previous frustration.

In the 1945 Series, the Billy Goat Curse supposedly began when a tavern owner wasn't allowed to bring his goat to Wrigley. In 2003, the Cubs lost the final three games of the NLCS to Florida, punctuated with a Game 6 defeat when fan Steve Bartman deflected a foul ball.

Even as recently as 2012, the Cubs lost 101 times.

This time, no such ill luck.

Bryant had an RBI single and scored in a two-run first . Dexter Fowler added two hits, drove in a run and scored one.

Contreras led off the fourth with a homer.Rizzo continued his resurgence with a solo drive in the fifth.

That was plenty for Hendricks, the major league ERA leader.

Hendricks left to a standing ovation after Josh Reddick singled with one out in the eighth. The only other hit Hendricks allowed was a single by Andrew Toles on the game's first pitch.

Kershaw, dominant in Game 2, gave up five runs and seven hits before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the sixth. He fell to 4-7 in the postseason.

"This day is never fun, the ending of a season," Kershaw said.

The Dodgers haven't been to the World Series since winning in 1988.

Pitching on five days' rest, Kershaw needed 30 pitches to get through the first. Fowler led off with a double against the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner, and Bryant's single had the crowd shaking the 102-year-old ballpark.

Fans had more to cheer when left fielder Andrew Toles dropped Rizzo's fly, putting runners on second and third, and Ben Zobrist made it 2-0 a sacrifice fly.

The Cubs added a run in the second when Addison Russell doubled to deep left and scored on a two-out single by Fowler.

LINEUP SHUFFLE

Maddon benched slumping right fielder Jason Heyward in favor of Albert Almora Jr.

"Kershaw's pitching, so I wanted to get one more right-handed bat in the lineup, and also with Albert I don't feel like we're losing anything on defense," Maddon said. "I know Jason's a Gold Glover, but I think Albert, given an opportunity to play often enough would be considered a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder, too."

Heyward was 2 for 28 in the playoffs — 1 for 16 in the NLCS.

SEEN

Kerry Wood, wearing a Ron Santo jersey, threw out the first pitch and actor Jim Belushi delivered the "Play Ball!" call before the game. Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder and actor John Cusack were also in attendance. And Bulls great Scottie Pippen led the seventh-inning stretch.

Cubs beat Dodgers 8-4, head home with 3-2 lead in NLCS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — One win away. Two chances at home. Seven decades of waiting.

The Chicago Cubs closed in on their first World Series trip since 1945 by beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on Thursday in Game 5 of their National League playoff.

Jon Lester pitched seven sharp innings , Addison Russell hit a tiebreaking homer and the Cubs grabbed a 3-2 lead in the NL Championship Series.

On deck, a pair of opportunities to wrap up that elusive pennant at Wrigley Field.

"The city of Chicago has got to be buzzing," manager Joe Maddon said. "We're not going to run away from anything. It's within our reach right now."

The Cubs' first opportunity to clinch comes Saturday night in Game 6, when Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw faces major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks.

"That's a game we expect to win," Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said.

Of course, the Cubs were in the same favorable position 13 years ago — heading home to Wrigley with a 3-2 lead in the NLCS.

But even with ace pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood starting the final two games, Chicago collapsed against the Marlins in one of its most excruciating failures.

More than a decade later, the franchise is still chasing its first World Series championship since 1908.

"We've heard the history," center fielder Dexter Fowler said, "but at the same time we're trying to make history."

Budding star Javier Baez was in the middle of everything for the Cubs, a common theme this October. The second baseman made a sensational defensive play when the game was still close in the seventh, and his three-run double capped a five-run eighth that made it 8-1.

After busting out of his postseason slump Wednesday, Russell hit a two-run homer for the second straight game. This one was a sixth-inning drive off losing pitcher Joe Blanton that gave Chicago a 3-1 lead.

"Just rounding the bases, it was pretty exciting," Russell said. "Pumped up, not only for myself but for the team and that little cushion that Jonny had to go forward from that."

Baez had three of Chicago's 13 hits, matching the team's total in Game 4, when the Cubs snapped a 21-inning scoreless streak and won 10-2.

Lester allowed one run and five hits, improving to 2-0 in three playoff starts this year. He has given up two runs in 21 innings.

The left-hander struck out six and walked one in a slow-paced game that lasted 4 hours, 16 minutes.

"These guys won the game for us," Lester said, nodding toward Russell and Baez. "I was just kind of along for the ride."

Anthony Rizzo's run-scoring double gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first.

Los Angeles tied it in the fourth on Adrian Gonzalez's RBI groundout.

Russell homered on an 0-1 pitch from Blanton, who gave up a single to Baez leading off the sixth. Baez stole second before Russell's shot to left-center put the Cubs ahead on another unusually hot night at Dodger Stadium.

Blanton took his second loss of the series. The veteran right-hander gave up consecutive homers in the eighth inning of Game 1, including a tiebreaking grand slam by pinch-hitter Miguel Montero.

"Our confidence hasn't wavered," Roberts said . "This series certainly isn't over."

With the Dodgers trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Gonzalez found himself on the wrong end of a replay review for the second consecutive night.

With Baez playing way out on the outfield grass in shallow right, the slow-footed Gonzalez tried to take advantage with a drag bunt leading off the inning. Baez rushed in for a barehanded scoop and off-balance throw, but Gonzalez initially was called safe by first base umpire Ted Barrett. The Cubs challenged and the ruling was overturned.

In Game 4, Gonzalez was tagged out at home to end the second after diving with his left hand stretched toward the plate while catcher Willson Contreras applied a tag. The Dodgers challenged, but the video review upheld umpire Angel Hernandez's out call.

Chicago jumped on struggling Dodgers rookie Kenta Maeda from the start. Fowler singled leading off the game and scored on Rizzo's double to right two batters later.

Maeda gave up one run and three hits over 3 2/3 innings. The right-hander has allowed eight earned runs in 10 2/3 innings this postseason.

The Dodgers' defense fell apart in the eighth.

Gonzalez tried flipping Russell's slow roller to reliever Pedro Baez, who came over to cover first and bobbled the ball for an error.

Contreras followed with a pinch-hit single, and the runners moved up on pinch-hitter Albert Almora Jr.'s sacrifice bunt. Fowler reached on an infield single to first, with Gonzalez losing a foot race when Fowler slid into the bag as Russell scored.

Kris Bryant reached on an infield single to third, with the Dodgers unsuccessfully challenging the call that he was safe.

The Dodgers thought they'd finally escaped the inning when Rizzo lined out to second baseman Kike Hernandez, who nearly doubled up Fowler at second. But the Cubs challenged the call and it was reversed, prolonging the inning.

Pedro Baez got yanked after walking Ben Zobrist to load the bases. Ross Stripling came on to face Javier Baez, who doubled to deep right, driving in three more runs.

"We can grab that momentum by one name: Kershaw," Gonzalez said. "We don't want to put it all on him, but if we score a couple of runs, we'll feel real good."

SCULLY RETURNS

Vin Scully was back at Dodger Stadium for the first time since ending his 67-year career behind the microphone earlier this month.

The 88-year-old Hall of Fame announcer attended as a spectator and proclaimed, "It's time for Dodger baseball!" from an upstairs suite.

UNDERSTATED

Cubs outfielder Matt Szczur isn't on the NLCS roster, but he's contributing. A day after his bat was borrowed by Rizzo to hit a home run, Szczur revealed during an in-game TV interview that Russell wore a pair of his underwear leggings Wednesday after leaving his own at home.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: Kershaw takes the mound in Chicago on an extra day of rest. The left-hander is 2-0 with a 3.72 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance this postseason. Overall, the three-time Cy Young Award winner is 4-6 with a 4.39 ERA in 17 career playoff appearances.

Cubs: Hendricks' 2.13 ERA was tops in the majors this season. The right-hander allowed a solo homer over 5 1/3 innings in Game 2, his longest career postseason start. The Cubs lost 1-0 to Kershaw.

Cubs homer twice in 10-2 win over Dodgers; tie NLCS 2-2

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After striking out in his first two at-bats, Anthony Rizzo needed something to bust his slump. He found it in teammate Matt Szczur's bat.

Using the borrowed lumber, Rizzo homered and ended a postseason skid with three RBIs. The rest of the Chicago Cubs' hitters broke out equally as big in routing the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-2 on Wednesday to even the NL Championship Series at 2-all.

"I know Szczur's bat has a lot of hits in it," Rizzo said. "I've done it a few times this year, just switching up the bat, switching up the mindset."

Addison Russell's two-run homer highlighted a four-run fourth that stopped Chicago's 21-inning scoreless streak and ensured the NLCS will return to Wrigley Field for Game 6 on Saturday.

"It's definitely a sigh of relief to have a big night," Russell said.

Kenta Maeda is set to pitch for the Dodgers in Game 5 on Thursday against Jon Lester. Manager Dave Roberts said he will not start Clayton Kershaw on short rest after the Los Angeles ace threw a bullpen session Wednesday.

"It's not an elimination game," Roberts said.

Following consecutive shutout losses, the Cubs rapped out 13 hits on an 80-degree night with the warm Santa Ana winds fluttering the flags in center field.

Rizzo used Szczur's bat on Tuesday night and got a broken-bat single. Szczur, left off the NLCS roster, didn't mind. He wrapped another one for Game 4, figuring Rizzo might want to use the bat that is the same weight and size but a different model than his.

"I just saw him walking up with my bat, and I started laughing," Szczur said. "And then he hits a homer with it."

Rizzo and Russell had three hits each. Chicago's 3-4-5 hitters — a combined 2 for 32 in the first three games — busted out. Every Cubs starter got at least one hit except Kris Bryant, who walked twice and was hit by a pitch.

"It's contagious, just like the lack of it is contagious," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "When you start hitting, it's contagious, defense, this whole game really follows itself."

Los Angeles was limited to six hits and made four errors in a game that dragged on for 3 hours, 58 minutes.

"It happens, but we haven't had a game like that in a long time," Roberts said . "You've got to brush off and get ready for tomorrow."

Mike Montgomery won in relief of John Lackey, removed after consecutive walks opening the fifth. Four days shy of his 38th birthday, Lackey allowed two runs, three hits and three walks.

"I thought we put ourselves in a position to get to Lackey, but he escaped," Roberts said.

At 20 years, 68 days the youngest postseason starting pitcher in major league history, loser Julio Urias gave up four runs and four hits in 3 2/3 innings. He was the third consecutive left-hander to start for Los Angeles.

"I wish I had taken advantage of this outing," he said through a translator.

Chicago rattled off three straight hits to open the fourth, sparked by Ben Zobrist's leadoff bunt single to third.

"With the way that our bats were swinging it at the beginning of the game, we just had to do anything we could. That was my thought process," Zobrist said. "I felt like if he threw a strike, I could get one down in a good spot and was able to do it."

He took second on Javier Baez's single to left, and Willson Contreras followed with a single to nearly the same spot in shallow left, scoring Zobrist.

Baez moved to third and Contreras took second on left fielder Andrew Toles' errant throw to the plate that skidded all the way to the backstop.

Jason Heyward hit a run-scoring groundout , and Russell followed with his first extra-base hit since Sept. 30 and his first homer since Sept. 19. He jubilantly pumped an arm as he rounded the bases on his two-run drive, which put the Cubs ahead 4-0.

Rizzo homered off Pedro Baez leading off the fifth, snapping his 0-for-11 skid in the series. Rizzo had entered 2 for 26 in the postseason.

Los Angeles closed to 5-2 in the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, Justin Turner's likely double-play grounder caromed off Montgomery's glove and Russell, who scrambled on all fours at shortstop as the ball went into left-center field for a two-run single.

"If he just gets his glove out of the way, he gets out of the inning," Maddon said.

Chicago tacked on five runs in the sixth off relievers Ross Stripling and Luis Avilan. Dexter Fowler singled in the first run, Rizzo added two more on a bases-loaded single and Javier Baez hit a sacrifice fly , with a second run scoring on an error by center fielder Joc Pederson.

By then, attention started turning to Thursday.

"It's about confidence," Maddon said, "and I want to believe they're going to show up tomorrow with a lot more confidence than they showed up with today."

YOU'RE OUT ON REPLAY

Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez was tagged out at home to end the second. A sliding Gonzalez stretched his left hand toward the tip of the plate as catcher Contreras applied the tag with his left hand near Gonzalez's upper left arm.

"We've got plenty of still frames that prove I was safe," Gonzalez said. "Usually they say the play stands, but they said there wasn't enough evidence, which means they know I was safe."

The Dodgers challenged Angel Hernandez's decision, and the video review let the call stand. That drew online scorn from Washington star Bryce Harper.

"He was safe! Replay system still broke..Same thing all year long! (hashtag)DontMessItUp," Harper tweeted.

SCULLY RETURNS

Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will attend Thursday's game, his first time back at Dodger Stadium since calling his last home game on Sept. 25. The 88-year-old ended his 67-year career this month with the regular-season finale at San Francisco.

FACES IN THE CROWD

Ashton Kutcher and wife Mila Kunis announced the Dodgers' starting lineup . Also on hand were Rob Lowe, Charlie Sheen, George Lopez, Larry King and Mary Hart.

UP NEXT

Lester allowed one run in six innings of Game 1 in the series, getting a no-decision in Chicago's 8-4 victory. ... Maeda has a 9.00 ERA in two postseason appearances. He allowed three runs and four hits in four innings of the NLCS opener and didn't factor in the decision.