Dangerous Dodgers maul Cubs

Aug 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starter

(21) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It wasn’t much of a game today at Dodgers Stadium, as the Chicago Cubs were beaten by the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2. The Cubs fall to 55-76 and the Dodgers improve to 77-54. The Cubs only recorded five hits to the Dodgers nine, and when they did get on base they reached scoring position only twice, in the 8th inning and off an Anthony Rizzo double in the 9th. Zack Greinke went deep into the game, culminating in a 8.2 innings before giving up a 2 RBI double to Brian Bogusevic.

Jake Arrieta was positively abysmal for the Cubs, clawing his way to the sixth inning. He recorded six hits and a whopping five bases on balls (three of them leadoff walks) for a measly 3K and a towering 111 pitches thrown. Control problems early persisted for him and it never really felt like he became comfortable with his pitches.

Zack Greinke was the polar opposite, however, pitching a long and efficient game. He gave up five hits and two walks for nine strikeouts in 122 pitches. It only took him 8 pitches to shut down the Cubs in the second, and again in 4th he used only 9 to render the Cubs ineffective. Recent Dodgers acquisition Brian Wilson replaced him with one out left in the 9th to strike out Donnie Murphy and end the game.

Greinke also had a successful relative appearance at the plate, with an RBI single in the 4th and a sac bunt crucial to a Carl Crawford RBI of Nick Punto.

Arrieta’s reliever, Carlos Villanueva met with difficulties also in the 7th when he gave up a massive solo bomb to Hanley Ramirez. He was pulled and his reliever Michael Bowden posted a quick two outs in the 8th that ended up with Yasiel Puig bombing his thirteenth home run of the season, adding  to an earlier double.

Starlin Castro‘s woes continued today after a leadoff single in the first led to yet another instance of being caught stealing trying for second.

Some good news, as Jeff Samardzija was named NL Co-player of the week.

The game tomorrow is again at 9:10 CDT. Travis Wood will face the formidable Clayton Kershaw in what’s sure to be a very difficult game for the Cubs.