Less than 24 hours removed from winning both games of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field, the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a series sweep of the Chicago Cubs by defeating them 7-1 in front of a national audience for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning but that was all Walker Buehler allowed, and it gave the Dodgers lineup time to manufacture their own offense.
With one out and the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Justin Turner lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game. Cody Bellinger then beat out a grounder for a go-ahead RBI infield single before the Cubs could get through the inning.
Bellinger finished with a game-high three hits, each of which came against a left-hander. It was an encouraging development after Bellinger had gone into a prolonged slump since being named National League Player of the Week.
Seven strong from Buetane. pic.twitter.com/RcSn0NzyK3
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 9, 2022
Singles by Gavin Lux, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth inning. The Dodgers’ rally was stalled a bit as Trea Turner grounded into a double play, but a second run did score on a wild pitch.
Freeman added a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to create more separation, and two more runs scored in the ninth on Nico Hoerner’s error.
The Dodgers scored their runs on two sacrifice flies, an infield single, double play, wild pitch and fielding error.
Buehler went seven innings in his 100th career start, scattering four hits and collecting six strikeouts. He finished with a season-best 15 swings and misses.
Betts leading Dodgers lineup
Betts recently said the current stretch is the best he’s felt at the plate, and his play has supported that. Betts now has a nine-game hitting streak, with five of those being multi-hit efforts.
Are you following Dodger Blue on Instagram? It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!
