CUBS DUMP DODGERS TO OPEN ETERNAL BASEBALL SEASON
Eternal Baseball Press
LOS ANGELES – National League stalwarts collided in the City of Angels, and it was Cubs who took the first bite on Opening Day.
Chicago rode some early offense and a brilliant performance from starter Mordecai Brown as the Cubs defeated the Dodgers 4-1.
Los Angeles starter Clayton Kershaw’s second inning started out poorly, as Kris Bryant led off with a single and Sammy Sosa followed with a bloop double. Bryant held at third base on Sosa’s hit, but scored one play later on Willson Contreras’ groundout to second base. Sosa took this on the groundout, and came around to scored on Ernie Banks’ sacrifice fly. That 2-0 Cubs lead doubled in the third inning, as Milt Cuyler breezed home on Ryne Sandberg’s triple off the right field wall, and Hack Wilson’s single plated Sandberg.
While Kershaw settled down after the third inning, Chicago starter Mordecai Brown was on his game all night. Los Angeles got on the board in the sixth inning, with a Jackie Robinson double followed by an RBI single from Roy Campanella. Brown pitched into the eighth inning and recorded two outs before giving way to the Chicago bullpen. Bruce Sutter struck out pinch hitter Gil Hodges on a deep fly to left field to end the inning. Pedro Strop followed and retired two batters. With a runner on, Lee Smith entered the game and struck out Duke Snider to end it.
Brown (1-0) claimed the win for Chicago (7.2 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) while Clayton Kershaw took the loss for Los Angeles (6.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 11K). Bruce Sutter and Pedro Strop received holds and Lee Smith earned his first save.
Game two of this three-game set is tomorrow night, Los Angeles sends lefty Sandy Koufax to the mound to face Chicago lefty Ed Reulbach. First pitch from Dodger Stadium is at 7:05 PM PST.
Photo Credit: Twilight at Dodger Stadium by John Liu
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