The Dodger and Cubs were tied at 2′s since the third, but Russell Martin took charge in the sixth with a grand slam to give the Dodgers a four-run lead in what would become a 7-2 win.
Jeff Weaver was a solid subsitute starter, going 5 1/3, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out four. He allowed a solo homerun to Fukudome in the second and another in the fourth for the last Cubs’ run of the night. It was Belisario who was tagged for the win though after finishing the final two outs in the sixth, his sixth straight scoreless appearance. Troncoso and Mota each combined for three shutout innings to add to the bullpen’s success.
Andre Ethier and Rafael Furcal each knocked in a run in the first and second innings before the Cubs tied it up in the third. In the sixth, Manny and Casey Blake had back-to-back singles, and a sacrifice bunt by Orlando Hudson moved them to second and third. James Loney was intentionally walked and made way for Russell Martin, who drove just his second career grand slam to put the Dodgers up by four runs. Furcal, Kemp, Manny, and Blake all had multi-hit games.
Weaver proved effective in filling in for Kuroda, and he may have to continue that subsitute role, as Kuroda was placed on the 15-day DL for last week’s concussion. Infielder Tony Abreu was activated to take the roster spot for the time being.
Randy Wolf looks to put the Dodgers up 2-0 in the series as he takes the mound Friday night after coming out his best outing of the season, taking a one-hit shutout into the eighth. He will face rookie Randy Wells, who is 9-5, with all nine wins coming in his last 11 starts.
