CHICAGO — Miguel Montero clubbed a two-out grand slam home run and Dexter Fowler added a solo shot as the Chicago Cubs exploded for five eighth-inning runs en route to an 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Saturday’s National League Championship Series opener.
Chicago snapped a 3-3 tie after giving up a lead earlier in the inning after closer Aroldis Chapman was hit for two eighth-inning runs when he entered with bases loaded.
Chapman struck out the first two batters but gave up a two-out single to Adrian Gonzalez that drove in pinch hitters Andrew Toles and Chase Utley to tie the game.
Ben Zobrist opened the Cubs’ eighth with a double to deep right and Jason Heyward and pinch hitter Chris Coghlan were intentionally walked by reliever Joe Blanton.
That set the stage for Montero, a pinch hitter who sent an Blanton’s 0-2 pitch to right clear the bases. Fowler followed with a solo homer to right.
Chapman blew a save but still earned the victory despite giving up the lead. Blanton took the loss after working just two-thirds of an inning and allowing five runs on four hits while walking a pair.
Cubs starter Jon Lester allowed just one run in six innings and retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced in the first of the best-of-seven series at Wrigley Field. But he received a no-decision after allowing just four hits, walking one and striking out three.
Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda also had a no-decision after an abbreviated four-inning outing.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with none out the eighth against Chicago pitchers Mike Montgomery and Pedro Strop, leading to Chapman’s fifth playoff appearance.
Fowler was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, Javier Baez went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored while Kris Bryant was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Toles doubled home Joc Pederson with one out in the ninth of Hector Rondon to close the margin.
The Cubs quickly hit Maeda for a first-inning run after Fowler’s leadoff single to center. Bryant lined a 1-2 pitch off the left-field wall past the outstretched arm of the Dodgers’ Howie Kendrick for a double. Fowler sprinted home while the ball returned 30 feet in before Pederson picked it up.
The Dodgers were denied a tie in the second inning. With runners at first and second and two out, Maeda dribbled a single past Addison Russell and Bryant but Zobrist rifled a throw to the plate and catcher David Ross tagged Gonzalez to close the frame.
Chicago made it 2-0 in the second as Heyward tripled into the right-field corner and scored as a short fly by Baez dropped into center for a double.
Baez reached third on a Ross sacrifice and made it 3-0 as Dodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz tried to catch him off base with a snap throw to Justin Turner. Baez bolted home with a steal as Turner’s return throw to Ruiz was late.
Fowler made two defensive gems in the early innings, with diving catches that prevented extra-base hits by Dodgers batters.
Maeda was pulled for in the fifth for pinch hitter Andre Ethier, who promptly got one run back for the Dodgers with a two-out solo home run to the left-field basket.
Maeda allowed three runs on four hits, struck out three and walked a pair.
The series continues Sunday night in Chicago and shifts to Los Angeles on Tuesday and Wednesday for Games 3 and 4. All games are set to being at 8:08 p.m. (ET).
NOTES: Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw will start Sunday’s Game 2 of the NLCS, manager Dave Roberts confirmed on Saturday. Kershaw last worked on Thursday, getting the final two outs in relief of Los Angeles’ NL Division Series clincher over the Giants. … The Dodgers added LHP Alex Wood and INF/OF Kike Hernandez to their NLCS roster while deactivating INF Charlie Culberson and C Austin Barnes. Hernandez was in Saturday’s starting lineup. … Los Angeles and Chicago have met only once in the postseason, a three-game NLDS sweep by the Dodgers in 2008. … This is the second straight year the Cubs have reached the NLCS. The New York Mets recorded a four-game sweep in 2015. It’s also just the fourth time Chicago has been in a league championship round, all series losses. … The Cubs added LHP Rob Zastryzny to their NLCS 25-man roster on Saturday while INF Tommy La Stella was removed. … RHP Kyle Hendricks, owner of a big league-leading 2.13 ERA, makes Sunday’s start for Chicago. Hendricks said he was fine after being struck on the forearm by a line drive by San Francisco’s Angel Pagan last week. … RHP Aroldis Chapman appeared in all four NLDS games last week, recording three saves and a team-high seven strikeouts.