MLB – NLCS Update: Cubs Beats Dodgers (3-2) in Game 5
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The Cubs staved off postseason elimination Wednesday with a 3-2 win over the Dodgers in Chicago.
Entering the game down 3-0 in the NL Championship Series, the Cubs had to apply some magic from last year’s World Series-winning run. The offense perked up just enough to get that done.
Joe Maddon was tossed for the second time this series after a ruling was overturned. Dodgers outfielder Curtis Granderson was originally called out for swinging third strike, but umpires reversed the unchallengeable play. Maddon then stormed onto the field, and was ejected for his actions.
The Cubs’ nail-biting 3-2 victory in Game 4 of the NLCS was noteworthy for a few reasons. First, it staved off elimination for Chicago. Second, it featured one of the most stupefyingly silly displays of umpiring you’ll ever see, with Curtis Granderson’s whiffed strike three somehow getting overturned (without the benefit of replay) to a foul tip, making everyone at Wrigley wish we could just junk umpires entirely and go to total Calvinball rules. Third, it featured not one but two home runs from Javy Baez, the give-zero-F’s infield dynamo who was 0 for 20 coming into this game, then won over the fans so convincingly, 41,000-plus chanted his name over and over. (There’s a 90 million-word essay on Baez coming some time soon on how damn fun Baez is. He’s absolutely electrifying.)
Game 5 will be in Chicago, where the Cubs will once again have to fight for their playoff lives.
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