Dodgers Pay the Price: Cubs Win After Tokyo Series Home Game Trade-Off

Despite sacrificing two home games for their earlier trip to Tokyo, the Chicago Cubs exacted a thrilling 11-10, ten-inning victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. This win came amidst a grueling April schedule, recognized as the toughest in Major League Baseball thus far.

The unusual schedule saw the Cubs play their initial two “home” games against the Dodgers in Japan back in March. While they will play 81 games on the road this season, their Wrigley Field slate is reduced to 79, with the two in Tokyo completing their 83-game “home” schedule. The question lingered whether those opening matchups would have unfolded differently if played on Chicago’s North Side.

Tuesday’s game appeared headed for a disappointing loss after a bullpen collapse in the seventh inning. However, catcher Miguel Amaya became the hero, crushing a game-tying two-out home run off Dodgers closer Tanner Yates in the bottom of the ninth. The ball just barely cleared the fence in left-center.

Then, after Porter Hodge held the Dodgers scoreless in the top of the tenth, Ian Happ delivered the decisive blow, hitting the first pitch of the bottom of the inning into right field for a game-winning single, securing the dramatic victory for the Cubs.  

“As soon as I hit it, I felt like, ‘It’s out,’” Amaya recounted. “But I saw center field get in position to catch it, then ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to run.’ It was enough to get out. Love those basket-balls.”

Happ added, “What a swing. That’s not an easy guy (closer Tanner Scott) to hit in the air. I think he’s one of the best in the game and it’s a really hard fastball to get in the air for a right-handed hitter. So just a really impressive swing from Mig there.”

While the win was a dramatic escape, it was also a game the Cubs’ offense largely controlled, outhitting the Dodgers 17-9 and scoring runs. However, they struggled to capitalize on opportunities with runners in scoring position. A significant issue was third baseman Gage Workman, who committed two errors, leading to four unearned runs.

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s two-run homer in the fifth inning put the Cubs ahead 7-4. In the sixth, Dodgers catcher Will Smith homered off Shota Imanaga. The pivotal seventh inning saw the Dodgers score five runs, initiated by a single and two walks against Brad Keller. Workman’s error on a bouncer allowed Teoscar Hernandez to reach, and Freddie Freeman followed with a two-run double.  

Kyle Tucker’s powerful seventh home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth brought the Cubs within 10-9.  

Reflecting on the Japan trip, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer maintained he had no regrets. “The trip was good for camaraderie,” Hoyer stated before the game. “Being together for seven days over there and eating a ton of meals together and all those different things, I think that part was good. I don’t think the starting early helped or hurt.”

Hoyer also appreciated the early completion of two West Coast series. After Wednesday’s game, the Cubs will have concluded their matchups against the Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Arizona Diamondbacks.

While the impact of two additional home games is speculative, Hoyer acknowledged the challenging schedule. “Certainly it is a very daunting schedule,” he said. “I’m proud of the way our guys have responded to it so far. We have a ways to go. At the same time, I thought we had a really hard schedule last April. We grinded through that and then we struggled in May (and June).”

Dodgers starter Dustin May, returning from a lengthy injury layoff with a stellar 1.06 ERA, was surprisingly roughed up by the Cubs in the first inning, surrendering five runs and four extra-base hits as the Cubs took a 5-3 lead. However, the Dodgers responded in the top of the first with a three-run homer by Tommy Edman – his third against the Cubs and Imanaga this season – all unearned due to Workman’s early error.

Happ led the Cubs’ offense, going 4-for-5. Tucker was 3-for-4, and Crow-Armstrong went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. The Cubs’ offense tallied three home runs, eight extra-base hits, and four stolen bases in the thrilling victory.