Dodgers continue road streak, beat Cubs 1-0
A.J. Ellis hit an RBI single, Stephen Fife pitched into the sixth inning on a day when Zack Greinke was pushed back a day for rest, and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their franchise-record road winning streak to 14 games with a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly moved Greinke’s scheduled start to Monday, saying he wanted to keep his starting pitchers fresh and rested. Mattingly said there was nothing wrong with Greinke, who will face the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.
A day after rookie Yasiel Puig hurt his thumb trying to make a catch, another Dodgers star was hurt. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez exited the game in the seventh inning after he tumbled into the stands catching a fly ball. He held his right shoulder as he walked off the field.
The Dodgers haven’t lost on the road since July 6 in San Francisco.
The NL record for consecutive road wins is 17, accomplished by the New York Giants in 1916. The last team to win 14 straight road games was the Detroit Tigers in 1984.
The Dodgers also swept the Cubs in a series of four or more games at Wrigley Field for the first time since 1988.
The Cubs haven’t scored for 23 straight innings. They last scored a run in the fourth inning of their 6-2 loss to the Dodgers on Friday.
Los Angeles finished with just two hits. The Dodgers are 14-2 since the All-Star break.
Closer Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the ninth for his 17th save in 20 opportunities.
Fife (4-3) struck out five and allowed seven hits in 5 1-3 scoreless innings. He walked two, one intentional. Fife was activated from the disabled list earlier in the day.
The Dodgers went ahead 1-0 in the second inning on Ellis’ RBI single after Cubs starter Carlos Villanueva walked Ramirez and Andre Ethier back to back.
Villanueva (2-8) allowed a run and two hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked three in his sixth start since returning to the rotation.
The Cubs loaded the bases in the sixth against Fife after back-to-back singles by Dioner Navarro and Nate Schierholtz and Logan Watkins’ first major league hit, a soft line drive over the head of Ramirez.
Chris Withrow replaced Fife, and Donnie Murphy popped out to Ramirez and pinch-hitter Cole Gillespie grounded out to first to end the threat.
NOTES: Mattingly said he expected Puig to be back in the lineup on Monday. “He’s better today than we actually anticipated,” Mattingly said. Puig injured his thumb while a making diving catch against the Cubs on Saturday. Mattingly said Puig would be available to pinch-run and as a defensive replacement on Sunday. He is hitting .376 with 11 home runs in 53 games. . LHP Ted Lilly was given his release by the Dodgers. Lilly (0-2, 5.09 ERA) was designated for assignment July 25. . The Cubs placed INF Luis Valbuena on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday because he strained a muscle on his right side. Chicago recalled Watkins from Triple-A Iowa to take his place. He started at second base and hit seventh on Sunday for his major league debut. Watkins was the Cubs’ 2012 minor league player of the year after batting .281 with nine home runs for Double-A Tennessee. . Los Angeles optioned OF Scott Van Slyke to Triple-A Albuquerque. Van Slyke was hitting .242 with six home runs.