7 more wins.
Yasiel Puig had a home run and two RBI as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from a two-run deficit to defeat the Chicago Cubs, 5-2, in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.
The highly anticipated rematch of the 2016 NLCS between the same two teams started off relatively quietly as left-handers Clayton Kershaw and Jose Quintana took turns throwing scoreless innings.
It wasn't until the top of the fourth inning that things took a turn as Wilson Contreas led off with a single to centerfield and Albert Almora Jr. followed with a two-run home run to left field that put the Cubs in front 2-0.
Albert Almora Jr. off of Kershaw! pic.twitter.com/oOJEy4LgtX— Baseball Bros (@BaseballBros) October 15, 2017
Kershaw became the first pitcher in Dodgers' franchise history to allow five home runs in a single postseason after the two-run shot by Almora Jr.
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"Almora put a good swing on a ball," Kershaw said of the home run. "The one I'm really upset about is the 3-1 to Contreras. Solo home runs I've always said you can deal with, but the ones with guys on base are tough."
The Dodgers got off the mat in the bottom of the fifth inning as Yasiel Puig connected with a four-seam fastball from Quintana for an RBI double to left-center that put L.A. on the board.
Puig might have thought he homered on the play as he immediately flipped his bat, raised his hands and started jogging to first base.
Yasiel Puig with the bat flip and a one out double! Dodgers 2 Cubs 2. #ThisTeam #LetsGoDodgers pic.twitter.com/SeH96FhJM1— SportsNotes (@SportsNotes23) October 15, 2017
Charlie Culberson—the surprise addition to the NLCS roster after All-Star Corey Seager was ruled out with a back injury—followed with a sacrifice fly that tied the game at 2-2.
Kershaw did not come back out to the mound for the sixth inning, and finished his 20th career postseason appearance with a no-decision. The three-time Cy Young Award winner allowed two runs on four hits, with one walk and four strikeouts in five innings.
"Obviously the spot came up," Roberts said about removing Kershaw when he did. "He was around up near 90 pitches, and I probably had him going out there for Rizzo and then going to have Kenta get the righties after that."
Quintana faced the minimum through four innings, but ran into trouble in the fifth as he also did not factor in the decision.
Pitching on one-day rest after making 12 pitches in relief in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Nationals, Quintana allowed two runs on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts in five innings.
"Emotionally he was pretty much drained at that point," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Quintana in the fifth. "The couple walks were indicators of that, right around 90 pitches after five, that's a pretty heave load. Based on what he's been coming off of the last couple days, I thought it was the right time to get him out."
Quintana gave way for right-hander Hector Rendon who was making his first appearance in the 2017 postseason after he was added on to the NLCS roster earlier in the day for left-hander Justin Wilson.
Rendon did not have time to even catch his breath, as he was immediately greeted by Chris Taylor, who led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a home run to right-center.
Dodger Stadium is rockin'!#NLCS pic.twitter.com/d73d2M86w8— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 15, 2017
The go-ahead home run was Taylor's first career postseason home run, and it came at the perfect time as the Dodgers completed the comeback and took a 3-2 lead.
"I thought I hit it a little bit better," Taylor said of the home run compared to his earlier fly out to the warning track in deep center." I hit them both good, but I had a feeling on that second one."
One inning later, it was once again Yasiel Puig who delivered the death blow for the Boys in Blue.
Puig crushed a four-seam fastball from Mike Montgomery just over the wall in left field to give the Dodgers a much-needed insurance run and a 4-2 lead.
GOODBYE, BASEBALL.
Admire that one as long as you'd like, Yasiel Puig. pic.twitter.com/NPuMa6XNgF— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) October 15, 2017
"When I hit it, I think that it's going, but later I see the left fielder say 'I got it,'" said Puig. "I started running, and I think the wind helped me a little bit tonight."
Puig is batting .467 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and six RBI this postseason. The home run against Montgomery, markes his first career home run in the playoffs, snapping a streak of 89 at-bats without one.
"I'm coming here and prepare more this year than any other years here with the team," said Puig. "My teammates helped me a lot this year. I played better this year. I'm so proud of myself and I want to keep going and do the best I can for my teammates and for myself."
The Dodgers added another run on an RBI single by Justin Turner four batters later, and for the second straight game, the Dodgers bullpen pitched four scoreless innings of relief.
Kenley Jansen came out of the bullpen and struck out all four batters he faced for a four-out save and earned his 11th career postseason save (3rd in 2017). Jasnen has appeared in all four of the Dodgers playoff games so far.
The victory for the Dodgers snapped a six-game losing streak in Game 1 of the NLCS, dating backing to 1988, the last time the Dodgers won the World Series.
In the last 31 years, since the NLCS was expanded to seven games, the team that wins Game 1 is 22-9 overall.
Controversial Call:
A fairly new rule created controversy in the bottom of the seventh inning as it appeared that Kyle Schwarber had thrown out Charlie Culberson at the plate.
However, after review, the umpires reversed the call, stating that Cubs' catcher Wilson Contreas, blocked the plate with his left leg, a fairly recent rule instituted by MLB after Buster Posey famously broke his leg in 2011 after a collision at the plate with Scott Cousins.
Culberson safe after review pic.twitter.com/an5usgPpXY— Dodgers (@DodgersVideos) October 15, 2017
After the call was reversed, a heated Joe Maddon immediately got in the face of the home plate umpire Lance Barksdale and was ejected from the game.
"I could not disagree more with the interpretation of that," said Maddon after the game. "The umpires did everything according to what they've been told, but I, from day one, have totally disagreed with the content of that rule."
Up Next:
It's a southpaw showdown in Game 2 of the NLCS as LHP Jon Lester squares off with LHP Rich Hill at 4:38PM PST on TBS.
