Game #7
Wednesday April 11
Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers
Honeycutt Sharp Cubs as Dodgers Cruise to 4-1 Victory
Chicago Loses 5 In A Row To End Road Trip
By Paul Sullivan, Tribune Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — Rick Honeycutt turned Dodger Stadium into his personal canvas Wednesday night, painting a masterpiece that left the Cubs bats all but invisible in a 4-1 Los Angeles victory. For a struggling Chicago club still trying to find its rhythm in this young season, the loss drops them to 2-5 and adds another frustrating chapter to their early April road woes.
Honeycutt, the Dodgers’ steady left-hander, baffled the Cubs with a complete-game gem. He allowed just four hits, walked two, and struck out a pair on 99 pitches. Save for a third-inning RBI single by leadoff man Henry Cotto, Chicago never truly threatened.
"It was one of those nights where he was just in control," said Cubs manager Jim Frey. "We didn’t get much going after that third inning. We need to put more pressure on pitchers like that, especially with men in scoring position."
The Cubs had their lone shot in the top of the third when Larry Bowa grounded out, moving Leon Durham to third. Cotto came through with a two-out single to center to briefly give Chicago a 1-0 lead. But the Cubs stranded runners in both the fourth and fifth innings and went quietly the rest of the night.
The Dodgers responded quickly in the fifth, roughing up Cubs starter Scott Sanderson for four runs. After a double by Bill Russell and a single by Mike Scioscia, leadoff man Steve Sax drilled a two-run double to left-center. Kenny Landreaux followed with an RBI single, and Scioscia capped the frame with a sharp RBI knock of his own.
Sanderson (0-1) labored through six innings, surrendering 10 hits and four earned runs, though he avoided issuing a walk. His pitch count climbed to 101 before giving way to Dickie Noles and Rich Bordi, who each pitched a scoreless frame.
"We let that one inning snowball a bit," Sanderson said. "That’s what stings. Otherwise, I thought I had decent command. But you can’t make mistakes over the plate with that lineup."
Meanwhile, Honeycutt was surgical. Only Gary Matthews managed an extra-base hit for the Cubs — a double in the fourth — but even that didn’t lead to any damage. The Cubs mustered just four baserunners over the final six innings, and none reached second base.
Ron Cey, facing his former team, went 0-for-3 with a walk in a return to Dodger Stadium that lacked the spark many anticipated. Keith Moreland and Jody Davis also struggled, combining to go 0-for-7, with Moreland grounding into a double play to end the sixth.
The Cubs now limp out of Los Angeles hoping a change of scenery will yield better results. They'll travel to Chicago and Wrigley Field for opening day on Friday in front of their home fans.
As for the Dodgers, they improve to 2-5 themselves and may have found their stride behind Honeycutt's efficient performance. "That was a darn good win," Dodgers skipper Tommy Lasorda said postgame, beaming in the dugout.
Game Notes:
Player of the Game: Rick Honeycutt (LAD)
Time: 2:18
Weather: 57° F, partly cloudy, wind in from left at 9 mph
Cubs LOB: 4
Dodgers LOB: 4