All six runs in Monday night's game scored via the long ball, and Kris Bryant went deep twice as the Chicago Cubs (38-30) defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers (36-32) and Clayton Kershaw 4-2.
With a man on first and one out in the bottom of the third, Bryant smacked a two-run home run (9) the opposite way to put the Cubs ahead 2-1. Kershaw thought he had Bryant struck out with a 94-mile-per-hour fastball just off the plate, but he did not get the call. Kershaw's next pitch, a breaking ball, went into the right-field bleachers.
In the eighth, Bryant pulled his second home run of the night, a solo shot (10) deep into the left-field stands to make the score 4-1.
This was Bryant's first career multi-home run game.
The Cubs also got a solo home run from Matt Szczur (1) in the seventh inning of his first game back from Triple-A Iowa. His blast made it 3-1.
Szczur replaced Kyle Schwarber on the roster. He started the game in left field but moved over to center when Dexter Fowler came out in the fifth in favor of Chris Coghlan. Fowler twisted his left ankle while running the bases in the third. He hurried back to first on Anthony Rizzo's fly ball that Joc Pederson caught on the dive and then threw in attempt to double off Fowler. The Cubs' center fielder scored on Bryant's home run and played the field until Coghlan pinch hit for him in the fifth.
The Dodgers got their two runs on solo home runs from Enrique Hernandez (3) in the top of the third and Peterson (19) in the ninth. These home runs were two of only five hits the Dodgers had all night. The Cubs also had only five hits.
Travis Wood (W: 4-3, 4.39) came out of the bullpen in the third to pitch 3 1/3 innings and pick up the win. He allowed only one hit while walking three and striking out four. Left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada started but came out after 2+ innings with cramping in his left arm. He allowed Hernandez's home run and then a single in the third before exiting. He struck out one overall. Jason Motte (S: 2) gave up Pederson's home run and another hit but then shut the door.
Both Fowler and Wada are listed as day-to-day.
Kershaw (L: 5-5, 3.33) pitched seven innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits (two home runs), two walks, and nine strikeouts.
Tuesday night features a battle of two of the toughest pitchers in the National League. Zack Greinke (5-2, 1.81) will face Jason Hammel (5-2, 2.89). The first pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. EDT.
