The Dodgers took a 1-2 loss Wednesday night to get swept by the Cubs in Chicago. The Dodgers were outscored 8-3 in their three losses against the Cubs.
The Dodgers matched the Cubs with seven hits, but the Dodgers’ one run actually came off a bases-loaded walk to Blake DeWitt in the fourth to score Russell Martin. The offense left 10 runners on base and went 0 for 5 with RISP, but managed a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the ninth.
Derek Lowe pitched a scoreless four-hitter for seven innings with five strikeouts. He left with the lead but earned the no-decision, which makes him winless in his past seven starts. Jonathan Broxton threw a hitless eighth for the hold. Saito came in to close out the ninth with a 1-0 lead but got his third blown save (in eleven chances) when he gave up a run. Saito walked two of his first three batters and loaded the bases when he failed to take first on a groundout throw from James Loney. Geovany Soto then hit a sacfly to tie the game at 1-1 and send it to extra innings. The Dodgers failed to score in the top half and took the loss when the Cubs scored one in the bottom of the tenth with Chan Ho Park on the mound. Park got one out before giving up a double to pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot. Fontenot then came around to score the winning run off an Alfonso Soriano RBI-single. This was Park’s first loss of the season.
The Dodgers leave Chicago after being swept and having lost five of their last six. They head to New York to take on the fourth place Mets. This is Joe Torre’s first trip back to New York, although he will be visiting Shea instead of his former home in the Bronx. The Dodgers send Brad Penny to the mound in the first of a four-game series. He will face Claudio Vargas, who stands at 1-2. Jeff Kent will also be back in tonight’s lineup.
