Oct 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell (27) and second baseman Javier Baez (9) celebrate after his home run in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgersin game five of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
ANGELES — Addison Russell homered for the second night in a row, and Javier Baez added three RBIs as the Chicago Cubs blew past the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.
Cubs starter Jon Lester (1-0) struck out six, walked one and allowed a run on five hits in seven innings as the Cubs grabbed a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Chicago can clinch a trip to its first World Series since 1945 with a win in Game 6 on Saturday at Wrigley Field.
Russell, who was 2-for-5 with two runs, cranked a tiebreaking, two-run homer off reliever Joe Blanton (0-2) with one out in the fifth to break up a 1-1 tie. Blanton surrendered two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Baez’s bases-clearing double highlighted a five-run eighth as the Cubs pulled away. Baez went 3-for-5, while Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Dexter Fowler had two hits and an RBI apiece.
After being blanked in Games 2 and 3, the Cubs outscored the Dodgers 18-6 in Games 4 and 5.
Dodgers rookie Kenta Maeda pitched 3 2/3 innings and allowed a run on three hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
Los Angeles shortstop Corey Seager went 2-for-3. Catcher Carlos Ruiz was 1-for-4 and drove in a run in the eighth, while Josh Reddick and Andrew Toles had RBIs in the ninth.
Fowler led off the game with a single and scored on Rizzo’s RBI double to give Chicago a 1-0 lead.
Los Angeles’ Howie Kendrick hit a two-bagger with one out in the fourth. After stealing third, Kendrick scored on a groundout by Adrian Gonzalez to tie the score.
Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner singled in the third to reach base for a club-record 15th consecutive postseason game, dating back to last season. Turner broke Carl Furillo’s mark set in 1953-56, when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn.
NOTES: Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 3.72 ERA in postseason) said he didn’t lobby manager Dave Roberts to start Game 5. “I don’t feel like that’s my decision,” said Kershaw, who starts Game 6 on Saturday at Wrigley Field. “I feel like (Roberts) and everybody above me have the whole team’s best interest in mind obviously, trying to win the series.” Kershaw faces Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 3.00) in a rematch of Game 2 starters. Kershaw and Los Angeles won the contest 1-0. . … If there is a Game 7 on Sunday, Dodgers LHP Rich Hill (1-1, 3.46) would oppose Chicago RHP Jake Arrieta (0-1, 4.91). … The winner of Game 5 has gone on to capture 70.2 percent of all best-of-seven postseason series, according to STATS, LLC.
