Cubs shut out Dodgers for sixth straight win |
Chicago - Four Chicago relievers combined to retire 21 straight batters after Jason Hammel had to leave game with a hamstring injury as the Cubs shut out the Dodgers 2-0 for its sixth straight win on Monday evening.
Hammel, who came into the game 6-1 and 5th in the NL in ERA at 2.13, had to leave before the start of the third inning after experiencing right hamstring cramping. It was the shortest start for a Chicago pitcher this season, but not a problem for the Chicago bullpen. Travis Wood, who pitched four innings, Justin Grimm, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon combined to give up no hits and no runs the rest of the way. Rondon picked up his ninth save by pitching a perfect ninth inning. In all, the Cubs retired the final 25 hitters of the game after an Adrian Gonzalez first inning walk. The only hit was a high bloop single in the first where it appeared Ben Zobrist lost it in the sun, and Jason Heyward tried to make a diving play on it. The Hammel injury, however, could be worrisome as Hammel had a hamstring issue in the middle of last season that lingered throughout the rest of the season. The Cubs got all the runs on the day in the fifth on an RBI single by Heyward and an RBI double by Anthony Rizzo. Game two of the series will be Tues., May 31 at 7:08 p.m. CT when Jake Arrieta (9-0, 1.72) faces Scott Kazmir (4-3, 4.84) NOTES: • The Cubs have won six-straight games to improve to a season-high 21 games over .500 ... marks their second winning streak of at least six games this season and first since winning eight-straight, May 2-10. • Chicago hurlers surrendered just one hit for the first time at Wrigley Field since September 27 of last year vs. Pittsburgh. • The Cubs recorded their fifth shutout of the season and their first since Jake Arrieta's no-hitter on April 24 in Cincinnati. • Pedro Strop (1.0 IP, 2 SO) has not allowed a run in his last 6.1 innings of relief (seven outings). • The Cubs improved to 3-12 when scoring fewer than four runs in a game.
