This Time Dodgers Hang on to Defeat Cubs 3-2

To be the best, you must beat the best.

Corey Seager broke the all-time single season home run record by a shortstop and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the best team in baseball, the Chicago Cubs, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

After the first three runners reached base to start the game, the Cubs took an early 1-0 lead on youngster Julio Urias.

Seager tied the game on one swing in the bottom half when he sent a slider from Jason Hammel over the wall in centerfield for his 23^rd home run of the season.

"He threw me a 1-0 slider, and I wasn't looking to do that, but it happened," Seager said of the home run. "We need to play well against everybody right now. We just need to keep winning series and keep getting wins."

Seager broke the all-time franchise record for home runs in a single season by shortstop, surpassing Glenn Wright who hit 22 in 1930.

"That's cool," Seager said of the record. "It's not something I celebrate now, but maybe at the end of the year."

The Dodgers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a leadoff double by Andrew Toles. Hammel struggled as the next four batters reached base, giving the boys in blue a 3-1 lead.

Hammel (13-7) didn't survive the third inning and left the game allowing three runs on five hits with one strikeout in 2 and 1/3 innings. Reliever Rob Zastryzny took over and pitched nearly four scoreless innings of relief in replace of Hammel.

Urias (5-2) won his third straight start and fourth consecutive game as he allowed just one run on six hits with eight strikeouts in six strong innings for the Dodgers.

"I attacked the zone and threw more strikes today," said Urias of his start. "The good thing is that everything worked out."

The development of the 20-year-old phenom was on full display as he avenged his earlier outing against the Cubs. On June 2, Urias allowed five runs in five innings in a loss at Wrigley Field in just the second start of his career.

"That's the beautiful part of this sport, it gives you the opportunity to face teams again," Urias said of his second start against Chicago. "I'm thankful to my team to help me get the win."

For the second straight night, the Cubs clawed back off the Dodgers bullpen. Pedro Baez's couldn't handle a bunt single by Wilson Contreas in the top of the seventh as his throw to first base flew past Adrian Gonzalez.

Seconds later, Baez would balk Contreas to third and he would score two batters later on a single by Jason Heyward.

The Dodgers would bend, but not break, as Kenley Jansen exacted his revenge on the "loveable losers" with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, 16 hours after blowing his sixth save of the season. Jansen earned his 38th save of the season and was happy to get back on the mound. 

"I just want the ball," he said. "I couldn't sleep last night. I just want to be the best and I wanted to get back out there today."

Players of the Game:

Corey Seager: 23^rd home run of the season (Dodgers record)
Julio Urias: 1 run, 6 hits, eight strikeouts, 6 IP.
Andrew Toles: 2-for-3 double and a run scored.

Three Takeaways:

1. Not So Short: Corey Seager broke the all-time Dodgers record for home runs by a shortstop when he crushed his 23^rd long ball of the year in the bottom of the first inning.  

Corey Seager: 23rd HR of the season, breaks Dodgers' all-time single-season record for HR by a shortstop. pic.twitter.com/E4EkpNjPW7 — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 27, 2016

2. The Best Under 20: Julio Urias recorded eight strikeouts in six innings on Saturday and now holds the best strikeouts per nine-ninning (10) radtio amongst MLB pitchers under the age of 20 since Dwight Gooden (11.4) in 1984.

Julio Urías' K/9 rate of 10.0 is highest in MLB among pitchers age 20-and-under since Dwight Gooden in 1984. https://t.co/7Ww848pUDq — Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) August 27, 2016

3. Three Million and Counting...The Los Angeles Dodgers reached three million in attendance on Saturday, the first team in the Major Leagues to reach the milestone. It was the fifth consecutive season the Dodgers have surpassed the three million in attendance mark.

In other news, the #Dodgers surpassed 3 million in attendance today. That leads the Major Leagues. #WeLoveLA — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) August 28, 2016

Up Next:

Cubs (82-46): Lefty ace Jon Lester heads to the hill in the series finale on Sunday.

Dodgers (71-56): Rookie Brock Stewart is still in search of his first career win as he gets the start at 1:10PM PST on Sunday.

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