Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and David Freese hit two-run homers to back Clayton Kershaw as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 7-3 Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series.
The NL West-leading Dodgers rallied from a 3-0 deficit after Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant hit leadoff homers for the Cubs in the early innings.
Bellinger added a solo shot in the seventh, his 22nd of the season, and drew chants of "MVP! MVP!"
Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger, right, celebrates his two-run home run with David Freese during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 13, 2019. (AP PhotoKyusung Gong)
The Cubs arrived in Los Angeles having just ended a five-game road skid, but they've dropped eight of 10 away from home.
It wasn't a great night for either team's left-handed ace.
Jon Lester, a three-time World Series champion, gave up three homers. Kershaw, a three-time NL Cy Young Award winner, allowed two.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 13, 2019. (AP PhotoKyusung Gong)
Kershaw (6-1) yielded three runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out eight and walked two.
Lester (5-5) gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
Julio Urias earned his third save with three scoreless innings of relief.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester throws during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 13, 2019. (AP PhotoKyusung Gong)
Lester retired 10 of his first 11 batters before getting hit hard in the fifth. With one out, he allowed five consecutive hits — including two-run homers by Bellinger and Muncy — that gave the Dodgers a 4-3 lead.
The Cubs turned a double play to escape the inning.
Freese slugged a two-run shot off Lester with two outs in the fifth, extending the lead to 6-3.
Chicago Cubs' Addison Russell, right greets Kris Bryant after Bryant scored against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 13, 2019. (AP PhotoKyusung Gong)
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: RHP Carl Edwards Jr. didn't make the trip to LA because of stiffness in his upper back.
Dodgers: SS Corey Seager went on the injured list with a left hamstring strain, the result of getting hurt in the ninth inning Tuesday against the Angels.
UP NEXT
Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (7-4, 3.00 ERA) has been strong over his last three starts. He has a 2.05 ERA with 20 strikeouts and two walks in that span.
Dodgers: LHP Rich Hill (3-1, 2.40) has averaged 10.80 strikeouts per nine innings and held Cubs batters to a .167 average in two career games. He has no record or ERA in those games.
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