Cubs even NLCS with dominant win over Dodgers
LOS ANGELES - Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell, and the rest of the Chicago Cubs' bats broke out in a big way.
Rizzo homered and ended a postseason slump with three RBIs, Russell's two-run drive highlighted a four-run fourth that stopped Chicago's 21-inning scoreless streak, and the Cubs routed the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-2 on Wednesday to even the NL Championship Series at 2-all.
Kenta Maeda is set to start for the Dodgers in Game 5 on Thursday against Jon Lester. Before the game, manager Dave Roberts said he would not use Clayton Kershaw on short rest after the Los Angeles ace threw a bullpen session Wednesday.
Chicago ensured the NLCS will return to Wrigley Field for Game 6 Saturday.
To break out of his prolonged slump, Rizzo used teammate Matt Szczur's bat.
''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.''
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 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.
''Today was a must-win for us,'' Ben Zobrist said.
Los Angeles was limited to six hits and made four errors in a game that dragged on for 3 hours, 58 minutes.