The Chicago Cubs are now down two games to none in the NLCS after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 on Sunday night.
John Lackey walked Chris Taylor in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Justin Turner then launched a walk-off home run into the stands to send the Dodgers to a 4-1 win in the game.
After struggling against Rich Hill in Game 3 of last year's NLCS, the Cubs spent the first four innings of the game doing so again. They had a great chance to score in the third inning after Javier Baez reached third on a stolen base and a wild pitch, but he was stranded as Jon Jay grounded out and Kris Bryant struck out to end the frame.
The Dodgers got their first good scoring chance in the bottom of the third, but Jon Lester was able to pitch out of trouble. With runners on second and third, Lester induced a pop-out to end the frame and keep the game scoreless.
That tie remained in place until the fifth inning when the Cubs finally broke through against Hill. Addison Russell turned on a pitch and smacked a solo home run over the left field wall to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, that lead didn't last very long. After Charlie Culberson led off the fifth inning with a double, Justin Turner managed to push a ground ball through the right side of the infield to score him and knot things up at 1-1.
Lester issued yet another walk with two outs, but Carl Edwards Jr. came in and slammed the door by striking out Chase Utley to leave the game tied after five innings.
Chicago Baseball
The Cubs' offense continued to flounder even after Hill left the game, as the Dodgers' relievers retired the first nine hitters they faced in order over the next three innings. That run gave the Dodgers' bullpen a staggering 21 consecutive batters retired to start the series.
Yasiel Puig reached base on a walk in the ninth inning, and then after Joe Maddon placed Lackey into the game, he walked Taylor as well. That set the stage for Turner's heroics, which left the Cubs in a 2-0 series hole.
The Cubs will try to bounce back on Tuesday when they battle the Dodgers in Game 3 at Wrigley Field.
