posted October 5, 2008
) Photo by Tim Evearitt (file photo) Catcher Russell Martin had four hits in the series, all for extra bases (three doubles and a homer) and five RBIs. |
The Dodgers gave it to the Cubs, all right. Hiroki Kuroda threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings while James Loney and Russell Martin drove in the runs Saturday night in a 3-1 Dodgers win that swept the Cubs and their Billy Goat Curse right out of the best-of-five National League Division Series.
The Dodgers will open the best-of-seven NL Championship Series on Thursday against the Phillies in Philadelphia.
The Dodgers previously won a postseason series for the 1988 World Series championship and last swept one in 1963, when a staff led by future Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale took the World Series by overwhelming the vaunted New York Yankees.
The Yankees former manager, Joe Torre, further enhanced his reputation by reaching the second round in his first Dodgers season, at age 68.
The Dodgers outhit the Cubs by only 10 points (.250-.240) but outscored them, 20-6, and the team ERA was more than three runs lower.
Cubs slugger Derrek Lee was 6-for-11 but without an RBI, as the 1-2 hitters for the Cubs went a combined 2-for-24.
With the win, the Dodgers are 24-9 at home since the All-Star break and 22-8 since the eight-game losing streak was halted and the season turned around.
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Adapted from MLB.com
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