For the second time in as many games against the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers started a rookie pitcher. It worked in their favor Saturday afternoon as Julio Urias held the Cubs to one run and had eight strikeouts over six innings, earning the win.
Brock Stewart was pitted against veteran southpaw Jon Lester in the rubber match of the series. Lester held the Dodgers to one run on four hits and collected 10 strikeouts in a complete game at Wrigley Field on June 1.
Lester and Stewart were sharp Sunday, with both racking up strikeouts early and often. Lester carried a no-hitter into the third inning, losing it on a Stewart slap single to left field with one out.
Stewart was removed in favor of a pinch-hitter after five scoreless innings and a career-high eight strikeouts. Lester tossed six shutout frames, holding the Dodgers to just three hits and finishing with six punchouts.
While there wasn’t much offense to speak of from either club, the Dodgers threatened in the eighth behind some assistance from the Cubs. Trevor Cahill hit pinch-hitter Andrew Toles with a pitch to put the go-ahead runner on base.
Cahill then threw the ball away at first base after fielding a tapper to the left of the mound. That put runners on second and third, and prompted the Cubs to intentionally walk Corey Seager.
Carl Edwards Jr. took over for the Cubs and struck out Justin Turner. Edwards Jr. then induced Adrian Gonzalez into a routine chopper. But Seager’s hustle resulted in him beating Ben Zobrist to second base, allowing the deciding run to score:
With their 1-0 victory, the Dodgers finished 4-2 on their homestand in series played against the rival San Francisco Giants and Cubs.
