Chicago Cubs' Hammel struggles again in loss to Dodgers
LOS ANGELES - The runs keep piling up even as Jason Hammel's starts get shorter.
The Cubs pitcher was pulled after just 39 pitches over 2⅓ innings - his briefest outing of the season - in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.
"I took Jason out because I didn't think things were going to straighten out," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "That's the reason I did it, no excuses. I wanted to give the bullpen some meaningful work."
Hammel (13-7) gave up 3 runs and 5 hits. The right-hander was coming off a poor performance against Colorado, allowing a season-high 10 runs (6 earned) in 3⅓ innings of an 11-4 loss. Hammel remained winless in nine career games (six starts) at Dodger Stadium.
Since winning six straight starts to open the second half, Hammel has allowed 13 runs (9 earned) in just 5⅔ innings.
"Joe and I talked after the game about it but it's not a topic for discussion in the newspapers," Hammel said. "There's nothing wrong with me mechanically. I'm fine."
Julio Urias allowed 1 run over 6 innings and Corey Seager set a Dodgers franchise record for a shortstop with his 23rd home run as Los Angeles evened the series between NL division leaders.
Urias (5-2) pitched better at home than the last time he faced the Cubs. The rookie left-hander made his second career start in Chicago on June 2 and gave up 6 runs - 5 earned - and 8 hits in five innings while serving up three homers.
This time, he allowed 6 hits and tied a career high with 8 strikeouts and 2 walks. He is 4-0 in six games (four starts) since the All-Star break.
Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his 38th save a day after allowing a run on a wild pitch in the ninth in a 6-4, 10-inning loss.
The Cubs' four-game winning streak ended when their rally in the seventh came up short. They got to 3-2 on pinch-hitter Jason Heyward's RBI-single off reliever Pedro Baez.
Heyward got caught stealing, and Baez walked Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant before getting Anthony Rizzo on an inning-ending grounder.
Los Angeles took a 3-1 lead in the third on RBI-singles by Chase Utley and Justin Turner. Utley's hit was the third straight given up by Hammel to start the inning.
Seager tied the game at 1 in the first, giving him the most homers by a Dodgers shortstop in franchise single-season history. He broke the old mark of 22 set by Glenn Wright in 1930.