Chicago Cubs

Cubs Beat Dodgers 8-4 in Game 1 of NLCS

The Chicago Cubs saw their lead slip away in the eighth inning, but a Miguel Montero grand slam lifted them to an 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS.

After Jon Lester got off to a quick start in the first inning and retired the side with ease, the Cubs' offense got on the board quickly. Dexter Fowler slashed a single to center field, and he came in to score as Kris Bryant rifled a double off the left field wall to give the Cubs an early 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, that was all they were able to muster. Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist both flew out to left field, and Addison Russell was retired on a weak groundout to the pitcher to keep the Cubs' lead at just one run.

The Dodgers got two runners on base in the second inning, as Adrian Gonzalez got a single and Enrique Hernandez walked. Joc Pederson struck out for the second out of the inning, and Ben Zobrist threw out Gonzalez at the plate on a Kent Maeda single to keep the Cubs in front.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Cubs' offense continued picking away at Maeda. Jason Heyward lashed a triple into the right field corner to start the inning, and with a drawn in infield, Javier Baez lofted a shot just over Corey Seager's glove to score Heyward and give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.

The lead was extended by Baez, and it happened in the most interesting of ways. With Lester at the plate, Baez was caught dead to rights off of third base, and he managed to get home after Carlos Ruiz's throw went to the bag, giving the Cubs a 3-0 lead.

That remained the score until the top of the fifth inning, but the Dodgers finally got on the board. Andre Ethier pinch-hit for Maeda in the frame, and he managed to hit a wind-aided home run into the basket in left field to cut the Cubs' lead to 3-1.

A controversial decision by Maddon chased Lester from the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the team's bullpen validated the decision. Travis Wood got the first out of the inning, and then Carl Edwards and Mike Montgomery finished things off to keep the Dodgers down by two runs.

The bullpen couldn't keep things intact in the eighth inning, and the Dodgers tied it up. Andrew Toles led off the inning with a signle, and Chase Utley and Jacob Turner each reached to load the bases.

Aroldis Chapman came in and struck out two straight batters, but Adrian Gonzalez ripped a two-out single up the middle to tie the game at 3-3.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Ben Zobrist got things kicked off with a double, and the Cubs got two more runners on via intentional walk as Heyward and Chris Coghlan both reached, and then Maddon sent Miguel Montero to the plate to pinch hit.

After nearly not making the roster because of a back issue, Montero put the team on his back instead. On an 0-2 pitch, Montero hammered a grand slam over the right field wall, putting the Cubs up 7-3.

To put an exclamation point on things, Fowler cracked a solo home run, and the Cubs led 8-3 going into the ninth inning.

The Dodgers added a run in the ninth inning, but Rizzo snared a lineout and doubled off a runner at second base to end the game and give the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Cubs will look to take a 2-0 series lead on Sunday when Kyle Hendricks battles Clayton Kershaw in Game 2 of the NLCS. First pitch is scheduled for 7:08 p.m., and the game will be televised on FS1.

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