Chicago Cubs rout the Dodgers to pull ahead in NLCS, 3-2

The Chicago Cubs pulled ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series on Thursday night, 3-2, beating the Dodgers 8-4 in Los Angeles. The Cubs scored in the first inning, notched two more runs in the sixth, then pounded in five in the eighth inning. The Dodgers scored a third and fourth run in the bottom of the ninth off a single by Ross Stripling and a sacrifice fly by Andrew Toles, but Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman held them to two runs, ending the game with a groundout by Justin Turner. The Cubs trounced the Dodgers on Wednesday, 10-2, and have outscored them 18-6 since losing Game 3 earlier in the week. The NLCS returns to Chicago on Saturday, where Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw will try to help force a Game 7. The winner of the series faces the Cleveland Indians in the World Series.
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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