Dodgers Drop the First One to the Chicago Cubs

It couldn’t last forever. The Dodgers, riding a six game win streak and a 3 1/2 game lead over the Giants, were manhandled by the last-place Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium 8-2, behind a gritty performance by rookie pitcher Kyle Hendricks, and a sloppy performance by Dodger starter Dan Haren.

The loss was Haren’s fifth in a row, but only the Dodgers’ second loss against the Cubs in the last 11 games between the two teams.

“We try to be confident, but anything can happen,” said Dodger skipper Don Mattingly before the game. He was oh so right.

The Cubbies scoredfirst and kept the Dodgers at bay until they didn’t have to. The Dodgers imploded once in the third inning, when Starlin Castro walked,  and two runs scored on a Ryan Sweeney single and  a throwing error by Kemp. Sweeney went to third.

AJ Ellis then mishandled a wild pitch from Haren, then botched the throw back to Haren, now covering home. Another Cubbie scored.

They imploded again in the fifth when Wellington Castillo singled on Miguel Perez’ first pitch, sending in another run.

Schierholtz sacrificed to Puig who almost throws out Sweeney, but the catch and tag was mishandled by Ellis at home.

The embarrassing coup de grace was delivered by third baseman Justin Turner as he went  blank at third fielding a throw, and then failed to cover anyone, allowing a runner to score. Another runner  snuck behind Turner at third as Turner stood motionless.

The loss cut the Dodger lead over San Francisco to 2 1/2, as San Francisco beat the Mets tonight, 5-1.

Here’s how we previewed the game:

We’re back at Dodger Stadium as the Dodgers (62-47) open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs (45-62). The Doyers are riding a six-game winning streak in the form of two sweeps against the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves. They currently enjoy  a 3.5 game lead over the Giants in the National League West.

“We’re always confident,” Dodger manager Don Mattingly told us before the game, “but there are a lot of games and anything can happen.”

The Dodgers will send righty Dan Haren (8-8) to the mound against Chicago rookie Kyle Hendricks (1-1)

First INNING

TOP

Arismendy Alcantara grounds out to first.

Chris Coghian singles to left.

Anthony Rizzo flies out to right field.

Coghian steals second, just like that.

Starlin Castro grounds out to first.

Cubs 0, Dodgers coming up.

BOTTOM

Dee Gordon (.270) bangs a hot one off pitcher Kyle Kendricks’ calf for a single.

Gordon steals second like it aint no big thing.

Gordon then steals his 50th base.

Adrian Gonzales, currently holding a .497 slugging percentage, gets walked. Intentionally. Like they mean it.

Hanley Ramirez doubles on a fielding error, scoring Gordon, and Gonzales gets tagged out coming home. (UPDATE: The call is under review.) Gonzales remains out.

Dodgers 1, Cubs 0

SECOND INNING

top

Luis Valbuena homers to right field on an 0-1 pitch, tying things up.

Ryan Sweeney grounds out to first.

Wellington Castillo walks to first.

Nate Schierholtz goes 2-2, 3-2, then flies out to third.

Kyle Hendricks singles up the middle for his first major league hit.

Alcantara swings at two of ’em, then three of ’em, then ends the inning.

Dodgers 1, Cubs 1.

BOTTOM

Matt Kemp flies out to deep center.

Justin Turner singles.

AJ Ellis hits into a double play, ending the inning.

 Dodgers 1, Cubs 1. 

THIRD INNING

TOP

Chris Coghlan strikes out. No hard feelings.

Anthony Rizzo doubles to deep center, as Kemp crashes into the wall. Nobody hurt.

Starlin Castro, who grounded to short in the first inning, walks to first.

Ryan Sweeney singles, and two runs score on a throwing error by Kemp. Sweeney goes to third.

Ellis mishandles a wild pitch from Haren, then botches the throw back to Haren, now covering home. Another Cubbie scores.

Haren walks Castillo. Mattingly strolls out to the mound. Haren stays in the game.

Nate Schierholtz flies out to center.

Chicago 4, Dodgers 1.

BOTTOM

Haren singles to first (!) Upon umpire  review, he is called “out.”

Dee Gordon strikes out.

Yasiel Puig grounds out to first.

Chicago 4, Dodgers 1.

FOURTH INNING

TOP

Cubbies go one, two, three.

BOTTOM

Scott Van Slyke flies out to center.

Hanley Ramirez singles to first.

Carl Crawford strikes out.

Matt Kemp swings slowly,twice, to no avail. And then swings again.

Chicago 4, Dodgers 1.

FIFTH INNING

Top

Rizzo is hit by a pitch, goes to first.

Castro singles.

Valbuena sends one deep  to left, which is snagged by Crawford.

Ryan Sweeney singles, and Yasiel Puig’s rocket throw to home keeps the runners right where they are. Bases loaded , one out. Here comes Mattingly. And new pitcher Chris Perez.

( A tepid wave dribbles across the reserved section.)

Wellington Castillo singles on Perez’ first pitch, sending in another run. Cubbies still have the bases loaded.

Schierholtz sacrifices to Puig who almost throws out Sweeney, but the catch and tag is mishandled by Ellis at home.

A wild pitch by Perez gives everyone in white a scare, but no one moves.

The Dodger defense suddenly collapses as  third baseman Justin Turner goes blank at third, allowing a runner to score, and a runner to take third as Turner stands motionless. I dunno….

Arismendy Alcantara goes to a full count, then flies out. Serious damage is already done.

Cubs 7, Dodgers 1.

BOTTOM

Turner grounds out to first.

A.J. Ellis grounds out to first.

Pinch hitter Miguel Rojas runs out a grounder to first.

Cubs 7, Dodgers 1.

SIXTH INNING

Top

Paul Maholm now pitching for the Dodgers.

Chris Coghlan grounds out to first.

Anthony Rizzo goes 1-2, then just beats out a long throw to first by Turner. (A review reverses the call. Rizzo is out.)

Starlin Castro doubles over the head of Crawford.

Luis Valbuena singles home Castro.

Sweeney flies out.

Cubs 8, Dodgers 1

BOTTOM

Dee Gordon flies out to left.

Yasiel Puig beats out a throw to first for a single.

Scott Van Slyke strikes out.

Hanley Ramirez runs to first on a dropped third strike, and the throw to second is wide. Puig and Ramirez standing on first and second.

Puig flies home from second on a single by Ramirez. (UPDATE: The call is under review, the third review of the night.) SAFE.

Carl Crawford grounds out to first.

Cubs 8, Dodgers 2.

SEVENTH INNING

TOP

Schierholtz, and some other Cubbie go down, while Alcantara is tagged out at first. Mahold jams his knee at first, but walks off under his own power.

Cubs 8, Dodgers 2.

BOTTOM

Matt Kemp goes down ingloriously.

Justin Turner goes quietly.

Aj Ellis flies out to deep left. But apparently, not that deep.

EIGHTH INNING

Top

Brian Wilson (the other one) now pitching for the Dodgers.

Coghlan singles. But the other Cubbies don’t.

Cubs 8, Dodgers 2

Bottom

Dodgers go like mice in the bottom of the eighth.

Cubs 8, Dodgers 2

NINTH INNING

Top

Ryan Sweeney happily strikes out.

Wellington Castillo strikes out.

Nate Schierholtz goes to 0-2, then strikes out.

BOTTOM

Down by six runs, the Dodgers face their last at-bat.

Scott Van Slyke strikes out.

Hanley Ramirez goes to 1-2, then hits one at Alcantra.

Carl Crawford flies out to deep center.

FINAL: Cubs 8, Dodgers 2