Heading into Wrigley Field for a quick two-game set against the Cubs on Tuesday, the Dodgers were looking to get out from under the cloud of the embarrassing 16-0 loss that the Cubs stuck them with on April 12.
The rematch series' opener was quick to become an instant classic. The Dodgers got off to a good start with a three-run homer from Tommy Edman, but the Cubs took advantage of Dustin May's shaky command on his sinker and responded with five runs in the bottom of the first. Andy Pages closed the gap a little with a solo homer, then Pete-Crow Armstrong answered with a two-run homer of his own to extend the lead, but the Dodgers regained the lead in the seventh on a Freddie Freeman double. And back and forth it went.
The Dodgers looked like they would be able to get out of the game with a victory — beaten up a little but victors nonetheless — in the bottom of the ninth. Tanner Scott was on the bump with two outs, and then Miguel Amaya absolutely crushed a center-cut fastball just over the center field wall to send the game to extras.
Will Smith, Max Muncy, and Michael Conforto went down in order in the top of the 10th, leaving the door open for the Cubs to walk off a stunning nail-biter.
Recent call-up Noah Davis, in his Dodgers debut, was given the ball to try to buy LA some more time. Ian Happ saw one pitch, and that was all he needed. With the help of the ghost runner on second, the Cubs took the opener 11-10.
Dodgers lose series opener to Cubs in incredible double-digit scoring, extra-inning showdown
Tuesday night's game, their 24th of the season, marks the first time this year the Dodgers have scored 10 runs or more. It wasn't quite as bad as having to wait 57 games to reach that milestone, as the 2014 Dodgers did, but it's a little shocking that these 2025 Dodgers, for all of the preseason hype and how good their roster looks on paper, had to wait 24 games, and that it still ended in a loss.
Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts weren't on; they went hitless through eight combined at-bats. Max Muncy is still completely floundering. Dustin May had his worst outing of the season so far after a strong three-game start coming off of injury. Tanner Scott put a single foot wrong, and it changed the entire complexion of the game.
This one is going to be hard for the Dodgers to shake off.