Dodgers Hit Four Bubbly Homeruns to Help Clayton Kershaw Pick Up 20th Win

The wind was whipping through Wrigley on Friday morning, and the Dodgers used it to their advantage as they clobbered the Cubs 14-5. Clayton Kershaw collected his twentieth victory of the season even though he wasn’t at his best and struggled to get his slider where he wanted it. The Dodgers had two six-run innings in the first and sixth, and they hit four homeruns off the lowly Cubs.

Even though Kershaw allowed three runs and walked three, his ERA still is still phenomenal at 1.80. He has now won five consecutive games.

A.J. Ellis helped out his BFF Kershaw by blasting not one but two two-run homeruns in the game. Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig both hit three-run homeruns, and the Dodgers nearly broke the beloved bubble machine which was churning out the soapy floaters virtually the entire game.

Dodgers 14 13 1

Cubs 5 11 1

WP- Kershaw (20-3)

LP- Jackson (6-15)

S-HR- Kemp (22), Ellis 2 (3), Puig (15)

The Dodgers jumped all over the struggling Edwin Jackson in the top of the first inning and put four runs on the board. Yasiel Puig had a great at-bat and drew a walk with one out. Adrian Gonzalez singled to right field, and Puig easily took third. Matt Kemp then crushed a three-run homerun to left field to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead! That Bison Blast was a no-doubter! It was a great feeling to put runs on the board before Clayton Kershaw even took the mound. Hanley Ramirez followed with a double to right field, and he moved over to third on a groundout by Carl Crawford. Juan Uribe‘s RBI single brought home Hanley for the Dodgers’ fourth run of the inning. Edwin Jackson was channeling his inner Carlos Frias, and he was hooked after 2/3 of an inning.

Edwin Jackson allowed 5 runs on 4 hits with no strikeouts and 1 walk on 35 pitches.

Sep 19, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Edwin Jackson (36) looks on after Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Matt Kemp (not pictured) hits a 3-run home run in the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Jokisch, a left-hander, came in to replace Jackson. A.J. Ellis then proceeded to hit a two-run homerun over the left center field wall! More bubbles emanate out of the Dodger dugout, and just like that the Dodgers took a commanding 6-0 lead over the deflated Cubbies. The inning finally came to a close after Clayton Kershaw struck out.

Clayton Kershaw, who had to sit around in the dugout for awhile during that long inning, walked Arismendy Alcantara to begin the home half of the first. Anthony Rizzo got Chicago on the board with a RBI double to right field. Kershaw was having trouble finding the plate, and the wind wasn’t helping Kershaw out either. A Jorge Soler triple and a Rafael Lopez sacrifice fly brought in two more Chicago runs. The Cubs were able to cut the Dodger lead in half 6-3 after Kershaw made 26 pitches in the frame.

Dee Gordon singled and stole his 63rd base of the season to open the second inning, but Jokisch retired Puig, Gonzo and Kemp in order thereafter.

Kershaw disn’t have his best stuff today. His slider wasn’t sharp. Kershaw is a fiery competitor, and even though it wasn’t his most stellar start, he fought his way through five innings.

Kershaw allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 9 strikeouts and 3 walks on 106 pitches.

A.J. Ellis helped out his best buddy Kershaw by hitting a second two-run homerun with two outs in the third inning! A.J. had hit just one homerun all season going into today’s game. Juan Uribe took a ride home on A.J.’s homer after he reached on a costly error by third baseman Mike Olt. Last year on this very same day A.J. hit a homerun which helped the Dodgers clinch the division.

The Dodgers continued to churn out the bubbles against the Cubs. A.J., who has definitely earned the Game Ball for today, drew a lead-off walk against reliever Dan Straily in the sixth. Joc Pederson pinch-hit for Clayton Kershaw, and once again he struck out per usual. Dee Gordon singled, and that was the speedy shortstop’s second base hit of the game. Then Yasiel Puig came up and smashed a huge batflippin’ homerun to left field! It almost cleared Wrigley Field. Gonzo walked, and Matt Kemp singled after the Puig homer. Then Hanley doubled in Gonzo. The Cubs made a pitching change, but it didn’t help at all. Brian Schlitter allowed a single to Crawford, and another two runs came home. The Dodgers took a double digit 14-3 lead after hanging up six runs in the frame.

Jamey Wright took over for Kersh in the bottom of the sixth, and the veteran only allowed a single to Junior Lake in the scoreless

Sep 19, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) reacts after giving up a run to the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Scott Elbert made his fourth appearance since returning from the disabled list. The long-lost lefty pitched a perfect inning.

Brandon League was the next Dodger pitcher, and he pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the eighth.

Darwin Barney led off the top of the ninth with a walk, but Pederson grounded into the inning ending double play. Pederson is now hitting .150 during his September call-up.

J.P. Howell came in to shut the door on the Cubs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but he was a little rusty from not pitching in while. Chris Coghlan singled to lead-off, and Alcantara doubled him in making it 14-4. Joc Pederson botched a fly ball by pinch-hitter John Baker in part due to the sun, and the Cubs score their fifth run of the game and second run of the inning. Rafael Lopez struck out against Howell for the final out.

*Magic Number is 7*

The Dodgers improve to 88-66 on the season. With a 3 game lead after the win, the Dodgers wait for the Giants to play San Diego later Friday evening. Saturday’s morning game will feature Roberto Hernandez on the mound versus left-hander Felix Doubront at 10:05 a.m. PT.