The Cubs Had no Chance Against Zack Greinke as Offense Wakes Up

Dodgers 6 9 0

Cubs 2 5 0

WP- Greinke (13-3)

LP- Arrieta (2-3)

HR- Ramirez (14), Puig (13)

Zack Greinke is pretty good, guys. Not only did the right-hander hold the Cubbies to just 2 runs on 5 hits, he also had a RBI single in the fourth inning. He almost pitched a complete game shutout, but he tired with one out in the ninth inning. Greinke is now hitting .340, and he is one of the most dangerous hitting pitchers in the league. Carl Crawford followed Greinke’s single with a ground-rule double to score the second run in the fourth inning. The Dodgers added two more in the sixth thanks to a double by Nick Punto and a scoring fly ball by Carl Crawford. Hanley Ramirez tacked on another run in the seventh with a beautiful and humongous solo homerun. The Cubs sniff the game in the top of the eighth after a tiring Greinke allows consecutive walks, but the Cubs fail to score.

Yasiel Puig was a triple short of a cycle Monday night as the outfielder picked up his 13th HR. Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Yasiel Puig wallops his 13th homerun in the bottom of the eighth to extend the Dodgers lead. Puig had a single, double, and a homerun in the game. Don Mattingly allows Greinke to start the ninth inning, and it is apparent that Greinke is tuckering out after allowing consecutive walks in the frame. Mattingly decides to leave him in, and the Cubs take advantage by doubling twice which is good for two runs and erases the potential shutout. I can’t really say anything bad about Greinke, because he pitched a great game. It just concerns me that Mattingly left him in too long in a game which was already well in the bag. Donnie should really begin thinking about getting Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu some rest down the stretch in anticipation for the playoffs. Brian Wilson came in and struck out Murphy for the final out, and the Dodgers took the win anyways.

Starlin Castro promptly singles to lead-off for the Cubs against Zack Greinke in the top of the first. Zack rears back to strike out Junior Lake. With Anthony Rizzo at the plate, Castro breaks for second. A.J. Ellis easily throws him out. Need I remind the Cubs, that you DO NOT RUN ON A.J.! Rizzo flies out to left field to end the inning.

With one out in the home half of the first, Yasiel Puig smacks a double down the right field line off of Jake Arrieta. Adrian Gonzalez lines out to Rizzo at first. Hanley pops out to second to end the frame, and Puig is stranded at second.

Greinke pitches a very quick and easy 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second.

Andre Ethier draws a lead-off walk in the bottom of the second. The Dodgers can’t advance Ethier as A.J. Ellis pops out, Mark Ellis strikes out swinging, and Nick Punto flies out.

Zack Greinke easily retires the bottom of Chicago’s lineup in the top of the third.

In the bottom of the third, Greinke draws a lead-off walk. Crawford pops up for the first out. Puig then singles to left field for his second hit of the game. Adrian Gonzalez swings at a pitch down in the dirt, and he goes down on strikes. Hanley Ramirez lines out to Arrieta, and the Dodgers are done in the third.

Greinke keeps rolling through the fourth inning. He strikes out Lake for the second time as the Cubs go down in order again.

A.J. Ellis draws a one-out walk in the bottom of the fourth, and that’s Arrieta’s third free pass of the night. MEllis flies out to

Aug 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs starter Jake Arrieta (49) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

left. Arrieta then walks Nick Punto after a 10-pitch at-bat. The Dodgers have two on with two out. Greinke then takes matters into his own hands as he singles to left field to bring in a run! That’s Zack’s fourth RBI on the season, and the Dodgers take a 1-0 lead. Crawford then doubles in the corner, a one-hopper which jumps into the seats for a ground-rule double! The Dodgers plate another run as Punto comes home and lead 2-0. Puig ends the inning by hitting a comebacker to Arrieta, but the Dodgers are able to finally break through for two runs.

The Cubbies collect their second hit of the game in the top of the fifth with a single from Donnie Murphy with two outs. Welington Castillo hits a little nubber in front of the mound, and Greinke picks it up and throws him out to end the frame.

Adrian Gonzalez strikes out on a foul tip to begin the bottom of the fifth, and that’s the second time Arrieta has been able to get Gonzo with a strikeout. Hanley grounds out to short. Andre Ethier hits a ground-rule double (the second one of the night for the Dodgers) over the right field wall with two outs. An annoying fan interfered with the play, and they were escorted out. Nevertheless, A.J. Ellis lines out to third to end the inning.

Zack Greinke pitches another great inning in the top of the sixth. He whiffs both Arrieta and Castro for his fifth and sixth K.

Arrieta allows his fifth walk of the night in the bottom of the sixth, yet another lead-off free pass which is to MEllis. MEllis is able to steal second (his fourth stolen base) with Punto at the plate. Nick Punto then hits a long double off the wall in right center field, and Mark Ellis scores giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead! That’s going to be all for Jake-five-walks-per-game-Arrieta. Carlos Villanueva will come in out of the Chicago bullpen. Greinke successfully sacrifice bunts Punto over to third. Crawford hits a fly ball deep enough to left field to allow Punto to tag up and bring in the fourth Dodger run. Puig goes after a ball way off the plate (his kryptonite), and the inning comes to a close but not before the Dodgers add two runs.

Jake Arrieta pitched 5 innings and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts and 5 walks on 111 pitches.

Junior Lake leads off the seventh by bunting for a single. That’s the Cubs third hit of the night. The hit is quickly erased as Rizzo grounds into a double play. Nate Schierholtz strikes out to end the inning.

Hanley Ramirez unloads in the bottom of the seven off of Villanueva. He hits a monstrous homerun to left field which just barely misses the second deck of the Loge level.  The Dodgers now have a commanding 5-0 lead. Ethier walks for the second time. A.J. Ellis singles up the middle. MEllis strikes out for the second time. Punto also strikes out.

Greinke continues to Greinke in the eighth. He strikes out Brian Bogusevic for the first out. Donnie Murphy walks, which is Greinke’s first walk of the game. He could be tiring a bit. He then walks Castillo as well. Rick Honeycutt goes out to talk to Greinke as Ronald Belisario warms. Darwin Barney grounds into a force out as he just does beat out the throw to first. Murphy advances to third. Former Dodger Dioner Navarro grounds out to third as Nick Punto makes a fantastic throw to get the sluggish catcher out!

Zack Greinke made 122 pitches and almost goes all the way for a complete game. Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Bowden, a righty, will pitch the bottom of the eighth for the Cubs. Greinke pops out to start the inning. Then Yasiel Puig crushes a solo homerun off the first pitch he sees to left field! That’s his 13th homerun of the season, and the Dodgers now lead 6-0. Estimated distance on the huge homerun is 439 feet.

Greinke is back out for the ninth inning. Castro grounds out. Lake strikes out for the third time against Greinke. Rizzo hits a two-out double, and Donnie goes out to ask Greinke if he’s okay. Greinke stays in to the crowd’s delight. Schierholtz is hit with a pitch. Mattingly kept him in way too long, and Bogusevic proceeds to double to left field which brings in two runs for the Cubs. Brian Wilson will come in to get the last out. Blackbeard strikes out Murphy to end the game.

Zack Greinke pitched 8 2/3 innings while allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with 9 strikeouts and 2 walks on 122 pitches.

The D-backs beat the Padres earlier in the night, so the Dodgers remain 9 1/2 games ahead. Their *magic number is 23*.

Tomorrow Clayton Kershaw will take on Travis Wood in game two.