Bryant Homers Twice As Cubs Beat Lethargic Dodgers Offense, 4-2
CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant connected twice for his first career multihomer game, and the Chicago Cubs beat Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Monday night.
Bryant hit a two-run drive in the third inning and a solo shot in the eighth. Matt Szczur had a solo homer against Kershaw after being promoted from Triple-A Iowa before the game for his fourth stint of the season with Chicago.
The two homers off Kershaw (5-5) ran his total for the year to 11, two more than he allowed all of last season. The reigning NL MVP and three-time Cy Young Award winner struck out nine in seven innings, ending a string of three consecutive starts with double-digit strikeouts.
The Cubs got terrific work from five relievers after Tsuyoshi Wada departed in the third due to cramping in his left shoulder. Center fielder Dexter Fowler was replaced in the fifth after he sprained his left ankle.
Travis Wood (4-3) pitched 3 1-3 innings for the win. Jason Motte allowed Joc Pederson's 19th homer in the ninth before finishing for his second save on his 33rd birthday.
Wada gave up a leadoff homer to Kike Hernandez and a single by A.J. Ellis before he was replaced by Wood with no outs in the third. The team said Wada had cramping in his left deltoid muscle and would be evaluated again Tuesday.
Wood, James Russell, Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon and Motte then combined for seven innings of one-run ball.
Bryant's two-out homer against Adam Liberatore in the eighth was his 10th of the season and led to a curtain call for the rookie slugger. Bryant was just 1 for 17 in his previous four games.
Los Angeles finished with just five hits in the opener of a 10-game road trip. The NL West leaders have dropped three of four.
The Cubs played the game under protest after the lights at Wrigley Field flickered in the bottom of the sixth inning, prompting an odd scene when manager Joe Maddon repeatedly came out of the dugout to talk to the umpires during a 10-minute delay.
With one out and Kershaw pitching to Bryant, a handful of lights in several banks went out at the ballpark. Maddon had multiple discussions with the umpires before play resumed, and all the lights appeared to be back on shortly after the game started again.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Joel Peralta (shoulder soreness) was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game. He pitched 5 2-3 scoreless innings over seven April appearances, going 1-0 with three saves in three chances.
"Joel's a different look," manager Don Mattingly said. "He's a guy that gives us experience."
The Dodgers also recalled left-hander Ian Thomas from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned relievers Daniel Coulombe and Matt West to their top farm club.
Cubs: RHP Neil Ramirez (shoulder inflammation) and INF Mike Olt (broken right wrist) will take their injury rehab stints to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. ... LHP Zac Rosscup (shoulder inflammation) plans to throw on Tuesday and get re-evaluated. "As of now, I think I'm headed to Arizona Wednesday to kind of get things cranking again," he said. ... Maddon said OF Jorge Soler (left ankle sprain) is at least a week away from beginning a rehab stint.
UP NEXT
Dodgers RHP Zack Greinke (5-2, 1.81 ERA) tries for his first win since May 5 when he takes on RHP Jason Hammel (5-2, 2.89 ERA) on Tuesday night. Greinke is 0-2 in his last eight starts despite a 1.99 ERA in the winless stretch. Hammel is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in four June starts.
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