Field Level Media
May 4, 2021
David Bote hit a three-run double in the first inning and the host Chicago Cubs rolled to a 7-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in the opening game of a doubleheader.
The Cubs scored four runs in the first inning and knocked Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw from the game after the opening frame. Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks (2-3) delivered a seven-inning complete game, giving up one run on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
Dodgers rookie Keibert Ruiz hit a pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning to spoil Hendricks' shutout bid. Ruiz hit the first pitch he saw this season into the seats in right field. Los Angeles has lost 11 of its past 15 games.
Jake Marisnick added a home run for the Cubs, who entered with seven defeats in their previous nine games.
Kershaw (4-3) threw 39 pitches and was pulled after giving up four runs on four hits with two strikeouts in the shortest start of his 14-year career. He lasted 1 1/3 innings in a start against the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010 that also occurred on May 4.
With one out in the opening inning, Kris Bryant hit a ground-rule double down the third-base line and into the seats, then scored on a single from Anthony Rizzo. A walk and single loaded the bases for Bote, who cleared them with a double off the left field wall.
The Cubs added two more in the third off reliever Dennis Santana. With two outs, Santana hit Marisnick with a pitch then gave up a single to Ildemaro Vargas. Vargas stole second to get into scoring position, with both runners scoring on a wild pitch and subsequent throwing error by Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes.
Marisnick's home run to lead off the sixth, his third, made it a 7-0 advantage.
After Ruiz's home run in the seventh, the Dodgers got Mookie Betts to third base, but Justin Turner grounded into a double play against Hendricks to end the game.
The game was rescheduled from Monday after the opener of the three-game series was postponed because of the threat of severe thunderstorms.
--Field Level Media