LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Dodgers lost Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs 8-4, on Thursday, October 20.
The Cubs took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after Anthony Rizzo hit a double that brought Dexter Fowler in for the score. Los Angeles managed to tie the game in the fourth as Howie Kendrick scored off of Adrian Gonzalez’s ground ball.
An Addison Russell homerun stole the game for Chicago, giving the Cubs a 3-1 lead that ballooned to 8-2 in the eighth inning as Russell, Contrera, Fowler, Bryant and Zobrist each made it to home plate. The Dodgers attempted to stage a comeback in the eighth and ninth inning, but despite runs from Andrew Toles, Gonzalez and Joc Pederson, Los Angeles failed to match the Cubs heavy hitting.
“That’s a game we expect to win. This series certainly isn’t over,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
After starting Kenta Maeda who lasted all of four innings, Los Angeles will once again turn to ace Clayton Kershaw in hopes of staving off elimination. The Dodgers refused to use Kershaw in Game 5, opting instead to give the Cy Young Award winner an additional day of rest in preparation for Game 6.
Game 6 of the National League Championship Series will be played in Chicago at Wrigley Field on Saturday, October 22.
