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Cubs Hang 10 on Dodgers in 10-5 Wrigley Rout
Cubs Power Past Dodgers 10-5 Behind Three Two-Run Homers
What Happened at Wrigley Field?
The Chicago Cubs put on a home run show at Wrigley Field on Monday night, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-5. It was a fun night for the home crowd of 39,384 fans as three different Cubs players hit two-run home runs in the first three innings!
The Big Hits: Three Players, Three Two-Run Homers
Here’s how the Cubs built their lead early:
- Seiya Suzuki started the party in the 1st inning — his 19th home run of the year drove in Pete Crow-Armstrong (who had singled to start the game)
- Kevin Alcántara made it 4-3 in the 2nd inning — this was his first career home run! He hit it after Dansby Swanson walked
- Carson Kelly added another in the 3rd inning — his 7th homer of the season made it 6-3
IMPORTANT POINT: A "two-run homer" means the batter hits a home run while there’s already one runner on base. That scores two runs with one swing!
Michael Busch Haunts His Old Team
Michael Busch used to play for the Dodgers. On Monday, he came back to haunt them:
- Hit a solo home run in the 5th inning (his 14th of the year)
- Then drove in two more runs with a single in the 6th inning
- Total: 3 RBIs (runs batted in) against his former team
The Coolest Moment: Carson Kelly Challenges a Call
In the 6th inning, something really cool happened. Carson Kelly was batting with the bases loaded and a full count (3 balls, 2 strikes). The umpire called strike three on a slider from Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott.
But Kelly disagreed! He used the ABS system (Automated Ball-Strike system) to challenge the call. The computer replay showed the pitch was actually a ball — so Kelly got to walk to first base, forcing in a run! Then Busch followed with a two-run single.
WHAT IS ABS? The Automated Ball-Strike system uses cameras and computers to track exactly where the ball crosses home plate. Players can challenge an umpire’s call, and the computer makes the final decision. Think of it like "instant replay" for balls and strikes!
Dodgers Fight Back But Fall Short
The Dodgers didn’t go down quietly:
- Tommy Edman hit a three-run homer in the 4th inning
- Teoscar Hernández crushed a 443-foot solo shot in the 6th (his 443-foot homer made it 7-5)
- But the Cubs answered with three runs in the bottom of the 6th to put the game away
Pitching Summary
| Pitcher | Team | Result | Innings | Runs Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Boyd | Cubs | WIN (7-1) | 6 2/3 | 5 (4 earned) |
| Justin Wrobleski | Dodgers | LOSS (11-3) | 4 1/3 | 7 |
Boyd pitched well enough to get the win. Wrobleski had his first loss since May 22 — that’s over two months!
What This Means for Both Teams
Chicago Cubs (Good News!)
- Improved to 2-2 on their 7-game homestand
- Pulled within 5½ games of the Milwaukee Brewers (who lost to Pittsburgh) in the NL Central race
- Made two trades before Monday’s deadline to strengthen their pitching:
- Got Clay Holmes from the New York Mets
- Got Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Dodgers (Tough Stretch)
- 4 losses in a row
- 6 losses in their last 8 games
- Got swept by Boston over the weekend before this series
- Good news coming: Tarik Skubal makes his Dodgers debut Tuesday! He was just traded from Detroit and has been amazing (1.95 ERA in his last 6 starts)
What’s Next?
Tuesday Night at Wrigley Field:
- Dodgers: Tarik Skubal (7-5, 2.79 ERA) — First start for LA since the trade
- Cubs: Javier Assad (6-1, 3.75 ERA)
Skubal was one of the best pitchers in baseball for Detroit this year. Cubs fans will get their first look at him in a Dodgers uniform!
Summary
The Cubs had a perfect offensive night at Wrigley Field — three different players hit two-run homers in the first three innings, Michael Busch drove in three runs against his old team, and Carson Kelly used the ABS challenge system to draw a crucial bases-loaded walk. Matthew Boyd picked up his 7th win, and the Cubs moved closer in the division race while making deadline trades to help their pitching. The Dodgers have now lost four straight and hope new ace Tarik Skubal can stop the bleeding Tuesday.
FAQ
What does "two-run homer" mean?
A two-run homer happens when a batter hits a home run while there’s already one runner on base. Both the runner and the batter score, giving the team two runs on one hit.
What is the ABS system Kelly used?
ABS = Automated Ball-Strike system. It uses cameras to track exactly where the ball crosses home plate. If a batter disagrees with an umpire’s call, they can challenge it, and the computer decides if it was a ball or strike. Kelly challenged a called third strike, the computer said it was a ball, so he got to walk!
Who is Tarik Skubal and why is he important?
Skubal is a star left-handed pitcher the Dodgers just traded for from the Detroit Tigers. He was one of the best pitchers in baseball this year (2.79 ERA overall, 1.95 ERA in his last 6 starts). He makes his Dodgers debut Tuesday against the Cubs.
What trades did the Cubs make?
Before Monday’s trade deadline, the Cubs acquired two pitchers:
- Clay Holmes — a reliever from the New York Mets
- Ryan Zeferjahn — a reliever from the Los Angeles Angels
Both will help strengthen Chicago’s bullpen for the playoff push.
How close are the Cubs to first place?
After this win and a Milwaukee loss, the Cubs are 5½ games behind the Brewers for the NL Central lead. They still have 5 games left on this homestand to try to close that gap further!
