Cubs Claw Past Dodgers 6-4 in Extra Innings

Bartender, I'll have another.

Kris Bryant belted two home runs, including the game-winner in the top of the tenth inning and the Chicago Cubs clawed back to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-4, on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. 

The National League leader in home runs dealt the Dodgers a crushing blow when he obliterated a fastball from Adam Liberatore in extra innings to give Chicago the come from behind victory.

"We never give up and we always that believe we can win in the final innings," Bryant said of capping off the comeback. "Tonight was no different."

Bryant recorded his fourth multi-homer game of the season as he crushed home runs in the eighth and tenth innings, respectively.

"Those balls were really properly struck," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "KB [Kris Bryant] put us in a position to win the game."

Addison Russell knocked in the game's first run with an RBI single that scored Bryant in the first inning, but the Dodgers would add three more runs on RBI ground outs in each of the first three innings. 

Dodgers' starter Bud Norris was shaky to start the game, but he stayed steady as a clock, retiring 10 of the next 11 batters he faced after squeezing out of a jam in the first inning.

"Those guys run counts up and spoil pitches," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "But he kept competing and settled in nicely."

Norris was dealt a no-decision as he allowed just two runs on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts in five innings of work.

Adrian Gonzalez blasted his 16th home run of the season with a solo shot in the top of the seventh that gave the Dodgers a comfy two-run lead.

However, Bryant blasted a solo shot to deep centerfield in the top of the eighth inning as the Cubs cut the lead to 4-3.

"Kris Bryant is an MVP caliber player," Roberts said. "When he gets extended he can hit the ball as far as everyone. He's very dangerous."

Kenley Jansen came in for the ninth looking to earn his 38^th save of the season, but instead blew his sixth save of the season after the unfamiliarty between new cather Carlos Ruiz and Jansen allowed two wild pitches to occur, tying the game for the Cubs.

"It happens. You take it like a man and move forward," Jansen said. "He's probably going to catch me more and we'll get comfortable."

Jansen served up a leadoff double to Jason Heyward but struck out Jorge Soler on a slider in the dirt. Unfortunately for Jansen, the ball skipped past Ruiz allowing Heyward to move into scoring position.

One pitch later, Heyward scored on a wild pitch that could have been caught by Ruiz and the Cubs tied the game.

"No excuses. I should have caught that ball," a solemn Ruiz said after the game. "It was the first time I caught him and his ball was moving real good and it surprised me right there. Like I said, I should have caught it."

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth inning by Travis Wood (4-0), Bryant belted his 35^th home run of the year to complete the comeback and closer Aroldis Chapman shut the door on the Dodgers in the 10^th for his 30^th save of the season.

Cubs fans in attendance at Dodger Stadium chanted "MVP!" for Bryant after his go-ahead home run in the 10th.

"It's cool to hear that," Bryant said of the MVP chants. "We travel really well. It's nice to see all the Cubs uniforms in the stands. We definitely notice it, but it's something I don't think about."

L.A.'s lead in the the NL West Division shrinks to just one game over the San Francisco Giants who beat the Atlanta Braves, 7-0, at AT&T Park. 

Players of the Game:

Adrian Gonzalez: Solo home run.
Kris Bryant: Solo home run.
Corey Seager: 2-for-4 with two doubles. 

Three Takeaways:

1. Chooch: Newest Dodger, Carlos Ruiz, made his debut on Friday night starting behind the plate and batting sixth in the lineup. Ruiz was acquired by the Dodgers on Thursday in a trade for catcher A.J. Ellis and minor league pitcher Tommy Bergjans. Ruiz went 1-for-3 with a walk in his first game with the team.

Carlos Ruiz's first hit as a Dodger. ✅ pic.twitter.com/zsh8edI42P — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 27, 2016

2. A Hard Day's Night: It was Beatles Night at Dodger Stadium on Friday as the cover band "Fab Four," performed before the game. On the field, the Dodgers' guitar gently weeps as they lost the lead in the ninth inning and went on to lose the game 6-4.

#MyTypicalFridayNight@Dodgers Fab 4 Concerthttps://t.co/TWjVv29eW1 — Jennifer Farrar (@jennfarrar7) August 27, 2016

3. Relief: Kenley Jansen recorded his 605^th strikeout in the ninth inning, surpassing Jim Brewer (604) for the most strikeouts by a reliever in Dodger franchise history. Jansen struck out the final batter he faced in the ninth to bring his total to 606.

Kenley Jansen just recorded his 605th strikeout of his career, the most by a reliever in #Dodgers history. — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) August 27, 2016

Up Next:

Cubs (82-45): Chicago will start Jason Hammel on Saturday against the Dodgers.

Dodgers (70-56): Los Angeles will send Julio Urias to the mound at 1:10PM PST.

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