Cubs rough up Dodgers' rookie
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs smacked three home runs off Los Angeles Dodgers rookie phenom Julio Urias and never looked back in a series-winning 7-2 victory on Thursday afternoon.
The victory was the Cubs' second straight as they took three of four from the visiting Dodgers.
Chicago (37-15) has now eight of its last nine. Los Angeles (28-27) has now dropped two straight and three of its last four.
Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks (4-4) went eight innings before he was pulled for a pinch hitter. He allowed just two runs on three hits, walked one and struck out six in his second straight game of eight or more innings.
Left-hander Travis Wood finished off the Dodgers with a scoreless ninth.
Urias, who gave up three runs on five hits against the Mets in a 2 2/3 inning major league debut on May 27, lasted longer but was hit harder on Thursday.
Urias (0-1) allowed up six runs on eight hits over five innings against the Cubs, including three home runs. He struck out four and walked one.
The Cubs claimed a 2-0 lead in the second after Anthony Rizzo walked and Jorge Soler singled to open the inning.
Javier Baez hit a single to center to score Rizzo from second and a Joc Pederson throwing error left Soler on third and Baez at second. Soler scored on Miguel Montero's one-out sacrifice grounder.
Baez struck again in the fourth, this time with a one-out, two-run homer to left that also brought home Soler for a 4-0 lead. Baez's third home run of the season came on an 0-1 pitch from Urias.
The Dodgers got one run back in the fifth inning on Trayce Thompson's solo home run to left center. Thompson's eighth homer of the year came on an 0-2 count with one out.
The Cubs slammed back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth to open a 6-1 lead. Jason Heyward hit his second home run of the season -- and first since May 17 -- when he launched the one-out shot to right.
Kris Bryant came up next and sent a Urias first pitch to left for his 13th home run of the season and second in two days. Urias completed the inning with a ground out and strike out and then was done for the day.
The Dodgers added a second run in the sixth on Seager's one-out sacrifice that scored pinch hitter Enrique Hernandez, who batted for Urias.
Rizzo whacked the Cubs' fourth homer in the eighth -- his 12th of the season. The bases-empty leadoff shot came off Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell.
The Cubs and Dodgers meet again in a three-game series between Aug. 26-28.
NOTES: With the close of a seven-game road trip, the Dodgers head home for a six-game home stand opening Friday against the Atlanta Braves. Los Angeles sends RHP Kenta Maeda (4-3, 3.00 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Julio Teheran (1-5, 2.77 ERA). ... LHP Alex Wood (left posterior elbow inpingement) is the 15th different player placed on the disabled list by the Dodgers this season. ... Rookie SS Corey Seager finished May with a .301 average, six doubles, seven homers and 15 RBI in 28 games. ... The Cubs' current 10-game homestand continues with Friday's opener of a three-game weekend series with the Diamondbacks. Chicago RHP John Lackey (5-2, 3.16 ERA) goes against Arizona RHP Archie Bradley (2-0, 6.11 ERA). ... 3B Kris Bryant's game-winning two-run homer on Wednesday was his 38th career homer in his 201st big league game. Only one Cubs' player since 1901 has more homers in his first 201 games at any point in his Chicago career: Fred McGriff had 42 in his 195 games in 2001-02. ... C Miguel Montero entered Thursday needing two hits to reach 900 for his career. ... 2B Ben Zobrist had Thursday off after striking out four times over the last two games.