Dodgers fall to Cubs for first loss of 2017 playoffs; still lead 3-1 in series
By Keith Rivas
9. 2. 71. Final. 3
Game 4 of the NLCS didn’t go to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but it’s not time to hit the panic button just yet.
For the boys in blue, getting back to the World Series has seemed to be as big of a hurdle as anything else, let alone winning it all. Up 3-0 in their NLCS series against the Chicago Cubs, the Dodgers fell for the first time in the entire post-season, losing by just a run.
Game 5 will be in Chicago tonight with another shot to punch their ticket into the World Series on the line. In the ALCS series that will determine the other side of things, there is now a chance that Los Angeles could play New York if they can both get that elusive fourth victory against their respective opponents.
LA was able to make the most of their late-game plate appearances against Cubs pitcher Wade Davis, which leaves Chicago in a desperate spot heading into another elimination game. In order to stay alive, the Cubs had to live off of home runs and make the scoring opportunities all about knocks out of the ball park.
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The Cubs got home runs by Wilson Contreras and Javier Baez in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead before Cody Bellinger cut that in half with a bomb of his own. Two innings later, Baez blasted another one out of Wrigley field to put the Cubs up by two runs.
In a comeback effort that would fall just short, Justin Turner was also able to make one go yard, but not until the 8th inning. While the loss obviously hurts and it delays the expected celebration for the Dodgers and their fans, they cannot afford to let Game 4 hang over their head for very long.
If so, they will completely lose their focus and quickly be on their way out of the playoffs in what would be a historic collapse. They’ve got Clayton Kershaw on the mound for Game 5 in Wrigley Field, but that isn’t always their best bet in the playoffs.
Next: Game 5 Is The Ultimate Proving Grounds For Clayton Kershaw
So for now, the Dodgers must take this time before the game to hold their breath and hope that things go back to LA without a Game 6 to be played. But nobody should’ve ever expected the Cubs to go down without a fight.