Game #6
Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodgers Knock Off Cubs Despite 13-Hit Attack
Brewer’s blast, Reuss’ arm bury Chicago in 5-2 loss
By Paul Sullivan
Tribune Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — The Cubs did just about everything right Monday night at Dodger Stadium—except push runners across the plate.
Despite out-hitting the Dodgers 13 to 8 and seeing Leon Durham fall just a homer shy of the cycle, the Cubs stranded nine men on base and dropped a frustrating 5-2 decision to Los Angeles. The loss dropped the Cubs to 2-4 on the young season.
The difference-maker came in the bottom of the seventh, when Dodgers pinch-hitter Tony Brewer launched a go-ahead solo homer off reliever Tim Stoddard—his first big-league blast of the season—that gave Los Angeles a 3-2 lead it would never relinquish.
Cubs starter Chuck Rainey held the Dodgers to two runs over six innings in a solid but unspectacular outing. He turned things over to Stoddard (0-1), who was tagged with the loss after surrendering three runs in just over an inning of work.
“I thought Chuck did his job,” said manager Jim Frey. “We just didn’t get the big hit when we needed it.”
The Cubs struck in the fourth inning when Durham crushed a two-run double with two outs off Dodgers starter Jerry Reuss, briefly tying the game at 2-2. Durham earlier tripled in the second, finishing the night 2-for-4 with five total bases and both Cubs RBIs.
But that would be all the scoring Chicago could muster.
Reuss (1-0) settled in nicely after the fourth, scattering 13 hits across seven innings with no walks and six strikeouts. He wriggled out of multiple jams, including a bases-loaded threat in the fifth.
“This was a team win,” said Reuss, who lowered his ERA to 2.57. “When Brewer came through like that, it gave us all a shot in the arm.”
The Cubs had a chance to answer in the eighth, but a pair of caught stealings—one by Ryne Sandberg and another by pinch-runner Bob Dernier—snuffed out a potential rally. Sandberg, who went hitless in five trips, continues to scuffle early in the season, his average now down to .125.
Los Angeles added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, with Mike Scioscia driving in one on a sacrifice fly and Greg Brock adding another with a sac fly of his own.
Tom Niedenfuer closed the door with a shaky but effective ninth to record his first save of the season. He gave up three singles but escaped unscathed, getting Bill Buckner to fly out to end it.
The Cubs wasted strong offensive nights from Durham, Gary Matthews (3-for-4), and Jody Davis (2-for-4), while also failing to capitalize on two Los Angeles errors and a sluggish start from the Dodgers' offense.
“We had the chances, no question,” Durham said. “It just came down to not cashing in.”
Game Notes:
Player of the Game: Jerry Reuss
Weather: 62°F and partly cloudy with a 7 mph breeze blowing out to left
Attendance: Not announced
Time of Game: 2 hours, 34 minutes