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Chicago Cubs bullpen impressive in 2-0 win over the Dodgers

By Nicholas D. Blazek

May 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; The Chicago Cubs celebrate their win against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
May 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; The Chicago Cubs celebrate their win against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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After Jason Hammel exited the game early with cramping, the Chicago Cubs bullpen was called on to absorb the blow, and they did that and more as they held the Dodgers hitless in the 2-0 win.

9. Final. 0. 71. 2

The

Chicago Cubs

nearly no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers again, this time behind a group effort following Jason Hammel’s exit after just two innings. Hammel experienced right hamstring cramping during warming up for the third inning and left the game after trying a few more warm-up tosses. He had allowed just one hit, a blooper to

Justin Turner

that in all honesty should have been caught. That was the last hit the Dodgers would get as the bullpen did a spectacular job in relief on this Memorial Day.

The Cubs (35-14) got a strong four innings from Travis Wood (3-0, 2.79), as he allowed no hits while striking out four. After Wood, Joe Maddon was able to use his bullpen as usual with Justin Grimm and Pedro Strop, followed by Hector Rondon in the ninth for his ninth save.

Ben Zobrist extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a single to right field that ended up with him on third after being misplayed by Yasiel Puig. Jason Heyward followed with a slow chopper to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez who fielded the ball cleanly but had no play anywhere. Later in the inning Anthony Rizzo collected his first extra-base hit in almost two weeks with a double to right to score Heyward, putting the Cubs up 2-0.

The Dodgers (27-25) had no answers for any of the Cubs pitchers as they retired the final 25 Dodger hitters of the game. The lone hit by Turner was a pop up to right that should have been caught. With balls lost in the sky not considered errors, the no-hitter was lost. Little did we know that was all the Dodgers would muster.

Next: Zobrist: Super utility to Superstar

Alex Wood (1-4, 3.99) went seven innings, allowing just two earned runs for the Dodgers, while their bullpen followed him with three solid innings of work as they shut down the Cubs as well. But by then the damage was done as the Cubs won their sixth in a row

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