Cubs stave off elimination thanks to pair of clutch HRs from Baez
CHICAGO (AP) Javier Baez snapped an 0-for-20 skid with two home runs, Wade Davis hung on for a six-out save and the Chicago Cubs avoided a sweep, holding off the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 Wednesday night in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series.
Jake Arrieta pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning to held the defending World Series champion Cubs close their deficit to 3-1. Manager Joe Maddon got ejected for the second time in this series in the eighth, and a packed Wrigley Field crowd watched Davis get Cody Bellinger to ground into a game-ending double play.
Maddon was heavily criticized for not using Davis during a 4-1 loss in Game 2. This time, the Cubs closer threw 48 pitches to finish the job.
Willson Contreras also homered for the Cubs. Bellinger and Justin Turner connected for the Dodgers, who had won a team-record six straight playoff games.
Game 5 is Thursday, with Jose Quintana pitching for Chicago against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.
HEADLINES
- Yankees' Schmidt: 'Sign the dotted line with however much' Soto wants
- Montgomery wins in debut, D-Backs hammer Giants 17-1
- Astros' Verlander allows 2 runs over 6 innings in season debut
- Phils' Turnbull flirts with no-no, Bohm hits 2 HRs in win over White Sox
- Rockies' Freeland out 4-6 weeks with elbow injury, says pitch clock could be factor