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Friday 20 OctOber 2017
Cubs avoid sweep, top Dodgers 3-2 to cut NLCS deficit to 3-1

By ANDREW SELIGMAN Dodgers manager Dave “I just need to take a step strike three against Curtis But I think if we get back
AP Sports Writer Roberts said. “So today, back and see what’s going Granderson was ruled a on track, everybody as a
CHICAGO (AP) — Javier they did. We got beat to- on,” he said. foul after the umpires dis- team, we’re going to be
Baez sensed he was ready day.” Contreras added a long cussed the play. Maddon the best again.”
to bust out of his slump and Contreras’ 491-foot homer
give the Chicago Cubs the banged off the left-field
lift they needed. videoboard and Baez sent
As breakthroughs go, this a towering drive out to left.
was a big one. Just in time Bellinger cut it to 2-1 with
to keep the season going his drive to right in the third.
for the defending champs. But Baez got the lead back
Baez snapped an 0-for-20 up to two with a shot to the
skid with two home runs, left-field bleachers in the
Wade Davis hung on for fifth, the raucous crowd
a six-out save and Cubs chanting “Javy! Javy!” for
avoided a sweep, holding the flashy young star who
off the Los Angeles Dodg- was co-MVP of the NLCS
ers 3-2 Wednesday night in last year.
Game 4 of the NL Champi- No Cubs player had hit two
onship Series. in a playoff game since
“We have to be much Alex Gonzalez went deep
more offensive,” manager twice in Game 2 of the
Joe Maddon said. “It’s got 2003 NLCS against Miami.
to start happening tomor- Arrieta exited with runners
row. We’re going to do this. on first and second in the
Going to pull this off, we seventh after walking Chris
have to become more of- Taylor on a 3-2 pitch. He
fensive tomorrow.” tipped his hat as fans gave
Baez finally got going with him a standing ovation, a
a pair of solo drives . fitting show of appreciation
Jake Arrieta pitched three- for a pitcher with an expir-
hit ball into the seventh in- ing contract.
ning to help the Cubs close “Hopefully, it’s not a good-
their deficit to 3-1. Maddon bye, it’s a thank you, obvi-
got ejected for the sec- ously,” Arrieta said. “I still
ond time in this series in the intend to have another
eighth, and a packed Wrig- start in this ballpark. If that’s
ley Field crowd watched where it ends, I did my best
Davis get Cody Bellinger to and I left it all out there.”
ground into a game-end- Arrieta turns 32 in March
ing double play. and figures to land a huge
Maddon was heavily criti- deal in free agency.
cized for not using Davis The trade that brought
during a 4-1 loss in Game him from Baltimore helped
2. This time, the Cubs closer fuel Chicago’s rise, with
threw 48 pitches to finish the right-hander captur-
the job. ing the 2015 NL Cy Young
Willson Contreras also hom- Award and contributing to
ered for the Cubs. Bellinger Chicago Cubs’ Javier Baez celebrates his second home run with Jon Jay (30) during the fifth last year’s drought-busting
inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles
and Justin Turner connect- Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, in Chicago. championship run.
ed for the Dodgers, who Associated Press Limited by a right hamstring
had won a team-record six injury in the final month of
straight playoff games. Baez hit solo drives in the homer against Alex Wood. got tossed, and Grander- the season, he threw 111
Game 5 is Thursday, with second and fifth after go- Davis entered with a 3-1 son struck out swinging at pitches. Brian Duensing re-
Jose Quintana pitching for ing hitless in his first 20 play- lead in the eighth. He gave the next pitch. tired Bellinger on a fly to
Chicago against Dodgers off at-bats. up a leadoff homer to Turn- And after walking Yasmani end the seventh.
ace Clayton Kershaw. He had been watching vid- er, who went 2 for 2 and Grandal to put runners Turner made it a one-run
“They’re the world champs, eos and felt his timing was drew two walks. on first and second, Da- game with his homer off
and you know they’re go- starting to come back in re- Maddon became in- vis struck out Chase Utley the left-field videoboard
ing to fight to the end,” cent trips to the plate. censed that a swinging , who is hitless in his last 24 against Davis in the eighth.
postseason at-bats. A career-high 16-game
All seven of Chicago’s runs winner, Wood gave up
in this series have come on three runs and four hits in
homers. And long drives in 42/3 innings.
the second by Contreras “The only frustrating thing is
and Baez made it 2-0. we fell a run short,” Turner
“Great to have this win, be- said.
cause if not we were go- “We played a great game,
ing home tomorrow,” Baez they played a great game.
said. They just hit one more ball
“But I feel like we’re still over the fence than we
budgetaruba@setarnet.aw not on track as a team. did.”q