Cubs' struggles continue as Dodgers take 3-0 lead in NLCS
Jim Young / USATODAY

Cubs' struggles continue as Dodgers take 3-0 lead in NLCS


by - Correspondent -

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs were back at home and the wind was blowing out, but the Cubs had no answer for Yu Darvish and the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen as Dodgers went up 3-0 in the NLCS with a 6-1 victory on Tuesday night.

Teams with 3-0 leads in a best-of-seven postseason series have gone 35-1 all-time.

The Cubs grabbed an early 1-0 lead with a Kyle Schwarber solo homer in the first and added two more hits off Darvish in the inning, but could not tack on any more runs. As in every other game in this series, Chicago jumped out to an early lead on homers but would fail to add any more runs the rest of the game.

"Well, of course, we expected more," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said when he was asked if Cubs performance has been surprising. "The Dodgers have pitched well. Surprised? It is somewhat surprising. I don't want to use the word disappointing. Our guys are working hard."

The Dodgers would tie the game in the second inning after Andre Ethier homered and then took the lead with Chris Taylor's solo homer in the third. It was the first time Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks allowed multiple home runs in consecutive starts in his career after giving up 2 in Game 5 of the NLDS.

In the fifth, Taylor tripled to left which scored Joc Pederson to make it 3-1. The Dodgers added an insurance run in the sixth when Carl Edwards, Jr walked Darvish with 2-outs and the bases loaded. Two more Dodgers runs came home in the 8th as the Cubs bullpen continued to struggle.

The Dodgers would hold the Cubs to 8 hits on the night with three coming in the first inning. The Cubs were 0-29 against the Dodgers' bullpen in the series until Alex Avila’s single in the ninth inning. According to Elias, it was the longest hitless streak by a team against opposing relief pitchers to begin a postseason series.

The Cubs will hand the ball to Jake Arrieta (0-1, 0.00) on Wednesday to save the season. The Dodgers will counter with LHP Alex Wood (0-0, 0.00).

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