Apr 10, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) hits the game winning RBI single during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field. Chicago won 3-2. Photo Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — Anthony Rizzo lined a game-winning RBI single to left with two outs in the ninth inning, giving the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a rain-delayed game that ran into early Tuesday morning.
Rizzo hit a 1-1 pitch from Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen to score Jon Jay from third and send the Dodgers (4-4) to their third loss in four games.
It was Rizzo’s sixth career walk-off RBI.
The win capped a banner night as the Cubs raised their 2016 World Series flag and National League pennant in pregame ceremonies in front of an appreciative crowd of 41,166.
The ceremony and game were pushed back as waves of rain moved through, with the first pitch coming nearly two hours after the scheduled start time.
Pinch hitter Jay led off the ninth with a sharp single to right, reached second on Tommy La Stella’s infield groundout and stole third as Kris Bryant struck out.
Dodgers reliever Sergio Romo (0-1) worked 1 1/3 innings. He took the loss after giving up the leadoff single to Jay.
Wade Davis (1-0), the sixth Cubs pitcher, worked one inning for the victory as the Cubs (5-2) won their third straight.
Cubs left-hander Jon Lester struck out seven and allowed just one run on four hits over six innings. He also drove in a run.
Dodgers starter Alex Wood worked 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits. He walked five and struck out four.
Lester gave up three hits and a run in the sixth as Corey Seager doubled in Joc Pederson with one out to trim the lead to 2-1.
The Dodgers tied the game 2-2 in the eighth after putting two runners on in the eighth off reliever Pedro Strop.
Koji Uehara entered and nearly got out of the inning when pinch hitter Chase Utley grounded to second for one out, but a throw by Addison Russell to first went wide and allowed Logan Forsythe to score the tying run.
Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the third when Kyle Schwarber walked with two outs and Bryant delivered an RBI double off the left field wall for the Cubs’ first hit.
The Cubs added another in the fourth with bases loaded and one out. Lester drove in Russell with a fielder’s choice grounder that forced Javier Baez at second base.
Los Angeles left fielder Franklin Gutierrez left in the second inning with a possible left hamstring injury after he was thrown out at second base attempting to steal. He was replaced by Scott Van Slyke.
NOTES: Monday’s game was the first at Wrigley Field featuring bullpens in their new locations beneath the left (home) and right field (visitor) bleachers. Fans and media cannot see into the bullpens from the field except through video feeds, but pitchers can see out. … Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said LHP Rich Hill — on the 10-day disabled list with a blister on his left middle finger — was improving and could throw a bullpen session on Thursday in Chicago and possibly start on Sunday against Arizona. … The Dodgers send RHP Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 3.00 ERA) against Cubs RHP John Lackey (1-0, 4.50 ERA) as the series resumes on Wednesday. … The Cubs were among nine major league teams — and the last in the NL Central — playing their first home games this week.
