Dodgers one win away from World Series after dominant Game 3 win

The Dodgers defeated the Cubs in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead over the Cubs in the best of seven series, they are one win away from reaching the World Series for the first time since 1988. Following the win Tuesday night, the Dodgers remain undefeated in the postseason.

The Dodger offense dominated Cubs pitching, scoring in five of the nine innings of the ballgame. The Dodger bullpen continued to dominate the series, not allowing a single run yet in the series. The Cubs only run of the game was on a solo shot by Schwarber in the first.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks started the game off with a quick 1-2-3 inning in the first. In the bottom half of the inning Dodgers starter Yu Darvish faced some trouble, allowing three hits, one of them being a solo homer to Kyle Shcwarber.

The Dodgers responded in the top of the second inning, a leadoff solo homer by Andre Ethier tied the game at 1-1. Hendricks retired the Dodgers in order following the homer. Darvish rebounded in the bottom of the second inning with a quick 1-2-3 inning.

The Dodgers took the lead in the top of the third on a solo shot by Chris Taylor, for Taylor it was his second homer of the series. In the bottom half of the third Darvish continued to look much better after a rough first inning, he allowed a two out single to Kris Bryant, for Bryant it was his second single in as many at bats. Bryant was left stranded on first after Anthony Rizzo grounded out to end the inning.

In the fourth the Dodgers looked to be in business after a leadoff single by Yasiel Puig, Hendricks struck out the next two batters and was able to strand Puig at first after Austin Barnes popped out to end the inning. Darvish continued to pitch well in the fourth, two quick outs was followed by a two out infield single by Addison Russell, a walk to Heyward brought up Hendricks. Darvish struck out Hendricks to end the inning.

The Dodgers were back in business in the fifth, a leadoff double by Joc Pederson was cashed in on an one out RBI triple by Taylor. Taylor was thrown out at the plate after running on contact on a Cody Bellinger ground out to first. Justin Turner flied out to end the inning and strand Bellinger. In the bottom of the fifth, Darvish retired the Cubs quickly with a 1-2-3 inning.

The Dodgers were able to plate another run in the sixth. Puig reached first on an error by Bryant at third, Ethier followed with a single to center. Hendricks day was done at 5 + IP 3 ER 4 R 6 H 6 K 3 BB following the single. The Cubs sent in RHP Carl Edwards Jr, to try to strand the runners. Puig and Ethier each moved up a base on a Chase Utley groundout. Austin Barnes walked to load the bases for Pederson, Edwards Jr. got Pederson to flyout to right field brining up Darvish with two outs. Edwards Jr. walked Darvish on four pitches to bring in a run and make it 4-1. The Dodgers left the bases loaded after Taylor struck out to end the inning.

Darvish shut down the Cubs again in the bottom of the sixth, after allowing a leadoff single to Anthony Rizzo, Darvish struck out Wilson Contreras and was able to end the inning after John Jay grounded into a double play.

The Cubs sent in RHP Pedro Strop in the top of the seventh. Bellinger reached second base on an error by Ian Happ, Happ dropped the ball after catching a fly out in center field. Turner followed the E8 by drawing a walk, putting runners on first and second for Puig. Puig grounded into a double play and Ethier followed by grounding out to end the inning.

Darvish went back out to start the seventh inning and struck out Russell. Darvish's day was at 6.1 IP 1 ER 6 H 7 K 1 BB done after the strikeout. The Dodgers brought in LHP Tony Watson, Watson retired pinch hitter Javier Baez and struck out Happ to end the inning.

The Cubs brought in LHP Mike Montgomery to start the top half of the eighth. Pinch hitter Logan Forsythe drew a lead off walk which was followed by a single by Barnes. Pinch hitter Charlie Culberson struck out but the ball got away from the catcher Contreras, the wild pitch allowed Forsythe to score and Culberson to be safe at first. Pinch hitter Kyle Farmer plated Barnes on a sacrifice fly making the score 6-1. RHP Hector Rondon was brought in to replace Montgomery and got to quick outs to end the inning.

The Dodgers sent in set-up man Brandon Morrow for the eighth. Morrow has been dominant this postseason, coming into the game, Morrow retired all the batters he has faced in the NLCS. Morrow started the inning by getting Ben Zobrist to ground out. Schwarber drew a walk making him the first batter to reach base on Morrow in the NLCS. Morrow got Bryant to line out and ended the inning by striking out Rizzo.

The Dodger offense looked to be in business after Puig lined a one out rocket off the wall in left, but was thrown out at second base for the second out of the inning. Kiké Hernández, however, Hernández was caught stealing to end the inning.

The Dodgers sent RHP Ross Stripling in to try to close out the game, Stripling allowed a lead off single to Alex Avila, the single marked the Cubs first hit off the Dodger bullpen in the series.

Albert Almora Jr. followed the single with a ground rule double to left field after the ball had gotten stuck in the ivy. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went to his closer Kenley Jansen despite not being a save situation. Jansen entered the game and quickly got Russell to pop out for the first out of the inning. Jansen then struck out pinch hitter Tommy La Stella and Ian Happ to end the game and preserve the Dodger bullpen scoreless inning streak at 10 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.

Game 4 of the NLCS is on Wednesday night in Chicago, if the Dodgers win they will win the National League pennant and advance to the World Series for the first time since 1988. The Cubs will send RHP Jake Arrieta to the mound in hopes of saving their season, the Dodgers will send LHP Alex Wood, who will be making his first start of the postseason.