SteemSports Presenter:
SteemSports Editor:
A seven-run seventh inning powered the Chicago Cubs over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday afternoon under the bristling heat of the LA sun, 11-5. It was the final game of their four-game series and with this victory, the Cubs tied it at 2-2. Clayton Kershaw made the start for LA, but the bullpen couldn't protect the lead and ultimately gave it away in that fateful seventh inning.
Kershaw turned in a satisfactory five-inning performance. In five, he gave up four hits and one earned run to go with zero walks, six K's, and an ERA of 2.84. It was a no-decision for Kersh (his record sits at a paltry 1-4 because of his typical lack of run support), so Walker Buehler got the loss tacked on his record (4-2).
Clayton looked good for being his second start after coming off the DL. He threw 68 pitches, with his fastball hovering around 93 and his curve bending and breaking like it usually does. Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes remarked in his postgame interview that Kershaw looked as good as can be, "I saw 100 percent from him...I didn't see anything hampering or laboring or anything. I thought he was the Kershaw that I know."
While it's exciting for Dodger fans to hear that their ace is regaining form, Cubs fans are delighted to see their bats came alive for an 11-5 beatdown of their National League rivals. Addison Russel and Albert Almona Jr. both hit bombs off Dodger relievers, and they also got RBI contributions from Heyward (1), Baez (1), and Rizzo (3). They just had the juice on Thursday afternoon, as they were 7-11 with runners in scoring position.
Jose Quintana got the start for the Cubs and he allowed seven hits, three earned runs, three walks, and a home run in 5.1 innings pitched. He struck out four and adjusted his ERA to 4.31 after Thursday's outing. Not an amazing performance, but his teammates had his back in the batter's box.
The Cubs aren't wasting any time in getting back on the field, as the first pitch for their game against the Minnesota Twins in Wrigley is set for 4:05 PM Central time on Friday. Mike Montgomery will be pitching for the Cubbies while the Twins will send Jose Berrios to the mound. The Dodgers will take on the surging Colorado Rockies on Friday evening with their boy Rich Hill against Tyler Anderson.
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