Power Barrage, Hendricks' Strong Outing Lead Cubs Past Dodgers, 7-2
CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks dominated over eight innings and the Chicago Cubs backed him with four home runs, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-2, on Thursday for their eighth win in nine games.
Javier Baez, Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant connected against 19-year-old Julio Urias (0-1). Anthony Rizzo hit a leadoff homer against J.P. Howell in the eighth as the major league-leading Cubs took three of four from the Dodgers.
Hendricks (4-4) allowed two runs and three hits, struck out six and walked one. He pitched a complete game in his previous outing to beat Philadelphia.
The Cubs gave Hendricks all the support he needed after managing just four hits over the previous two games.
Urias was simply overpowered in his second career start. The top prospect gave up six runs and eight hits in five innings after lasting only 2 2/3 innings in his big league debut against the New York Mets last week.
Baez broke out of a 6-for-42 slide with two hits and three RBIs, including a long two-run homer in the fourth. He also made a neat catch at second base in the fifth inning, when he raced to his right and lunged to snag Carl Crawford's soft liner up the middle.
Heyward and Bryant made it 6-1 with homers on consecutive pitches in the bottom half. Bryant's drive hit halfway up the video board in left.
Jorge Soler got two hits and scored twice as the Cubs improved to 6-1 on their 10-game homestand.
Trayce Thompson homered as Los Angeles finished 3-4 on its seven-game trip.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: OF Yasiel Puig (left hamstring) didn't start for the third straight day. He struck out as a pinch hitter. Manager Dave Roberts said Puig was day-to-day and the team was not considering putting him on the DL. ... INF/OF Scott Van Slyke (lower back tightness), sidelined since April 9, is progressing in his rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City and could rejoin the Dodgers as early as Friday when they host Atlanta. "His at-bats have gotten better of the last few days," Roberts said. "That's a conversation we'll have after this (Thursday's) game."
Cubs: Closer Hector Rondon was feeling better but unsure if he would be available. Rondon's back tightened before Wednesday's game, and he would not have been able to pitch had Jon Lester not gone the distance.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: With an extra day of rest after getting hit by a line drive in his pitching hand, RHP Kenta Maeda (4-3, 3.00 ERA) starts as the Dodgers open a three-game series at home against RHP Julio Teheran (1-5, 2.77) and the struggling Braves.
Cubs: RHP John Lackey (5-2, 3.16) looks to continue his run of strong starts as the Cubs open a three-game series against RHP Archie Bradley (2-0, 6.11) and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lackey was 2-1 with a 2.09 ERA in six outings in May.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.