The Chicago Cubs, were faced with elimination in Game 4 of the NLCS on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and lived to see another day, as they defeated L.A. 3-2.
Jake Arrieta was tabbed with trying to keep the Cubs in the series and avoid a 4-game sweep, and even though he struggled with his control walking five batters, he only allowed one run on three hits and struck out nine batters.
The Dodgers Alex Wood didn’t fair as well, allowing three runs on three solo home runs, in 4.2 innings.
In the Bottom of the second, Willson Contreras homered to open up the scoring and two batters later, Javier Baez hit a solo shot to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Dodgers pulled within a run in the third on Cody Bellinger‘s first dinger of the series.
In the fifth, Baez launched his second home run of the game to put the Cubs up 3-1. Then in this homer happy game, Justin Turner pulled the Dodgers within a run in the top of the eighth, with his second home run of the series, a lead-off shot off closer Wade Davis.
After a walk to Yasiel Puig, Davis retired Andre Eithier and Curtis Granderson for the first two outs of the inning. He then walked Yasmani Grandal moving the tying run to second, but got Chase Utley swinging on a 95 MPH four seam fastball to end the threat.
In the ninth, Davis struck out Austin Barnes, walked Chris Taylor and then induced a ground ball double play off the bat of Bellinger, sending Chicago to a Game 4 victory and extending the series to at least another day.
Both teams will be at it again on Thursday night with the Dodgers looking to close out the series and the Cubs hoping to force a Game 6 in Los Angeles.