Dodgers top Chicago Cubs on Ramirez’s 3-run HR in extras

Hanley Ramirez hit his first career walk-off home run, a three-run blast with two outs in the 12th inning to lift Los Angeles to a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.

With the game tied 2-2 and light rain falling at Dodger Stadium in the 12th, Blake Parker got Drew Butera to groundout for the first out, then struck out pinch-hitter Adrian Gonzalez. Dee Gordon singled pasted second baseman Arismendy Alcantara, stole his major league-leading 51st base and scored when Ramirez drove a 1-0 pitch to left field for his 12th homer after full-count walk to Justin Turner.

This was the third time in the last five games the Cubs have played extra innings, all against National League West opponents.

The Cubs failed to convert with two men on and two outs in the eighth and 12th. J.P. Howell struck out pinch-hitter Luis Valbuena in the eighth and Justin Ruggiano struck out against Jamey Wright as the Cubs stranded five runners in scoring position in the game.

Wright allowed two hits over two innings for the win and increase the Dodgers lead to 3 1/2 games over the Giants.

Starlin Castro‘s RBI single gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first against Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Tsuyoshi Wada, who made his fourth major league start, walked Ramirez to start the fourth and Matt Kemp sent a hanging slider for his 12th home run of the season for a 2-1 lead. It was the first home run Wada has surrendered.

Juan Uribe doubled down the left field line and advanced to third with two outs in the sixth when Wada was pulled for long reliever Carlos Villanueva, who needed just one pitch to retire Butera.

Junior Lake reached on a bunt single past the right of the mound with one out in the seventh and scored an out later on Alcantara’s double to right-center, tying the game at 2. It was the third hit of the game for the switch-hitting rookie. Castro also had three hits and an RBI.

Ryu allowed two runs and nine hits through seven innings and struck out six.

Wada allowed two runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings and struck out six.

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