Cubs Crush Dodgers 10-2 in Game 4, Even NLCS at 2-2

They may have awoken a sleeping giant.

Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo both broke out of slumps with homers and the Chicago Cubs crushed the Los Angeles Dodgers, 10-2, in Game 4 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night.

Russell and Rizzo were a combined 3-for-50 entering the game, but finished 6-for-10 with two home runs and five RBI as they tied the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

"I've been struggling this postseason a little bit," said Russell. "My confidence was still there, so it's definitely a sigh of relief to have a big night."

His teammate agreed. 

"The best part about the postseason is it's the next at-bat. You've got to turn the page and you've got to be ready for that big situation," added Rizzo. "All the guys in the clubhouse kept telling me: 'it just takes one at-bat. It just takes one.'"

Russell was the first to break out of his slump when he sent a four-seam fastball over the centerfield wall to cap off a four-run, fourth inning that put Chicago firmly in control.

One inning later, it was Rizzo's turn as he took Pedro Baez deep in the top of the fifth inning.

Everybody is busting out of their slumps tonight! @ARizzo44 #FlyTheW #NLCS pic.twitter.com/Tcnnqbx1eP — TahoeKanerFan (@kaner_fan) October 20, 2016

Mistakes cost the Dodgers dearly in the early innings. Justin Turner was picked off at second base by catcher Wilson Contreas to end the first inning, and Adrian Gonzalez was called out at the plate in a controversial call to end the second frame.

"I knew I was safe and there's plenty of still frames to prove that I was safe. Unfortunately, this turned into a trial and there was not enough 'evidence,'" said a frustrated Gonzalez after the game. "Unfortunately, they didn't get the call right and it was big for us to not take a 1-0 lead. You never know what would have happened." 

"Watch Israel Germán's Vine, "Adrián González llegó primero que el tiro en home plate #p…" via @BleacherReport App: https://t.co/E7hu7oIVSJ — Mike Lowrey (@quentinwashere) October 20, 2016

In the top of the fourth, LA looked ready to limit the damage as Andrew Toles had Ben Zobrist out at the plate, but his errant throw sailed up the first baseline and over the head of Yasmani Grandal allowing Zobrist to score and runners to advance to second and third.

The Cubs chased 20-year-old Julio Urias from the game in the four-run fourth inning as the youngest starting pitcher in postseason history disappointed in his playoff debut as a starter, allowing four runs on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 3 and 2/3 innings.

"I came out to fight for the team tonight, but unfortunately we didn't get a favorable result," said Urias after the loss. "I felt comfortable on the mound, I just wasn't able to get the results I wanted."

John Lackey continued to be a Dodger killer in the postseason as he left the game with the lead in the bottom of the fifth with two runners on base.

Both the runners would eventually come around to score on a two-run single by Turner and Lackey's night ended with two runs allowed on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts in four innings.

"My outing was inconclusive, but we won the game. A win is a win, and we'll take it," said Lackey after the start. "But tomorrow's another game, we are in Hollywood."

The big single for Turner brought the Dodgers within three runs as both teams headed into the final few innings, but the Cubs broke the game open in the top of the sixth with five runs on a bevy of more mistakes by the boys in blue.

"We haven't had a game like that in a long time," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "There are a few plays that could have went a certain way or plays that we could have made that could have changed the outcome of the game, but it wasn't to be."

The Dodgers committed two more errors in the inning—giving them four total in the game, and six by both teams combined—as the Cubs cruised through the final few innings with the confidence the series is going back to Wrigley Field.

"We played a pretty sloppy game overall," added Gonzalez. "We could have played better that's for sure, obviously it was a big reason why we lost today."

Mike Montgomery pitched two innings of relief and became just the third reliever in LCS history to earn the win and have a hit.

The 10 runs scored by the Cubs were the most in an NLCS game since the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 12-6, in 2011.

The Dodgers streak of eight consecutive postseason games with a home run was snapped on Wednesday, it was the second longest streak in franchise history.

Players of the Game:

Anthony Rizzo: 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
Addison Russell: 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
Justin Turner: Two-run single. 

Three Takeaways:

1. Breaking Out: Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo were a combined 3-for-53 (0.57 average) in the postseason before they homered in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.

Addison Russell & Anthony Rizzo were a combined 3-for-53 in the postseason entering the at-bats where they hit their HR — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 20, 2016

2. Turn Down For What: Justin Turner extended his postseason on-base streak to 14 games, tied for the longest stretch in Dodgers franchise history with Carl Furillo from 1953 to 1956. 

Justin Turner extended his postseason on-base streak to 14 games, tied with Carl Furillo (1953-56) for longest in #Dodgers history — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) October 20, 2016

3. Scoreless No More: The Cubs snapped a 21 inning scoreless streak with four runs in the fourth inning. The streak was the longest in the team's postseason history, snapping the 1906 Cubs who went 16 innings without scoring a run in the playoffs.

The @Cubs scored their first run in 22 innings on Willson Contreras' single in the 4th inning. — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 20, 2016

Up Next:

Cubs (2-2): Jon Lester gets the ball again in a crucial Game 5 for the Cubs

Dodgers (2-2): Kenta Maeda heads the mound in the important swing game at 5:08PM PST on Thursday.