Dodgers crush Cubs to close on series

CHICAGO: The Chicago Cubs' championship drought looks like extending to 100 years after they fell to a 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, making it two losses from two home games in the best-of-five National League Division Series.

The Philadelphia Phillies also took a 2-0 lead in their NLDS by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2.

Manny Ramirez hit a mammoth homer for Los Angeles, while Russell Martin had a three-run double, and the Dodgers took advantage of four errors by the clumsy Cubs.

"It wasn't good baseball. In fact, the last two days, that's probably been the two worst games we've played all year," frustrated Chicago manager Lou Piniella said. "It wasn't fun to watch, I'll tell you that."

Chicago became the 23rd major league team to lose the first two games at home in a best-of-five playoff series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, and only one has come back to win - the 2001 New York Yankees against Oakland.

The series switches to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Saturday. Chicago starting pitcher Rich Harden will face Hiroki Kuroda, who pitched a shutout against the Cubs in June.

Chicago is aiming for its first World Series title since 1908, but quickly finds itself on the brink of elimination. The Cubs, who have lost eight straight playoff games in all dating back to 2003, must win two consecutive games in Los Angeles to get the series back to Wrigley Field.

Ramirez's 26th postseason home run sailed at least 450 feet into center field. He capped his performance with an RBI singles in the Dodgers' two-run ninth.

On defense, the Cubs collapsed. All four infielders made an error, including two in the second that led to a five-run inning for Los Angeles. Martin got a three-run double in that inning. The four errors by Chicago tied a division series record.

In Philadelphia, a Shane Victorino grand-slam moved the Phillies within a win of reaching the NL Championship Series for the first time in 15 years.

Philadelphia pitcher Brett Myers dominated the Brewers batters, allowing just two hits in seven innings.

Milwaukee starter C.C. Sabathia, pitching on three days' rest for the fourth consecutive start, had his worst outing since joining the Brewers in a mid-season trade from Cleveland. The burly left-hander allowed five runs in 3 2-3 innings. He walked four, his second-highest total of the season.

Sabathia might have to wait six months for his next start, and that might be in a different uniform. The 28-year-old will be one of the most sought-after free agents at the end of the season.

Sabathia was 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts for Milwaukee, almost single-handedly leading the Brewers to their first postseason berth since 1982. But he struggled in the playoffs _ again. He's lost his last three postseason starts, including two against Boston in last year's ALCS. Overall, Sabathia is 2-3 with a 7.92 ERA in the playoffs.

He was uncharacteristically erratic in the second inning as the Phillies broke the game open.

With the game tied 1-1 and bases loaded, Victorino smashed a shot into the seats in left to give the Phillies a 5-1 lead.

"He threw me a slider," Victorino said. "He provided most of the power but I put a good swing on it and it left the park."

The Brewers missed an opportunity to take control of the game in the first inning after Myers walked in a run with one out. The Phillies pitcher then induced Corey Hart to hit into a double play to end the inning.

Game 3 is Saturday in Milwaukee, with 45-year-old Jamie Moyer pitching for the Phillies against Milwaukee's Dave Bush.

Agencies

(China Daily 10/04/2008 page12)