Cubs can't overcome gaffes as Dodgers sweep doubleheader

Teams know they aren't going to get many scoring opportunities when Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw takes the mound.

The tall, lanky left-hander is just too good.

Understanding that, the worst thing you can do is run yourself out of innings - which is exactly what the Cubs did not once, but twice during a 7-0 loss in Game 1 of a doubleheader against Los Angeles at Wrigley Field on Saturday.

The first gaffe came when Seiya Suzuki was picked off first base by Kershaw after drawing a one-out walk in the opening frame.

The second was far worse, with Nico Hoerner assuming he could take an extra base after Trea Turner's throw from shortstop zipped past first baseman Freddie Freeman in the second inning. The ball bounced off the wall, and a stunned Hoerner was thrown out halfway to second.

"I think he thought it hit a camera and bounced back," said manager David Ross. "Just one of those tough lessons. Let the umpire tell ya to go (to second)."

Then came the nightcap - when the problem went from running to walking as starter Daniel Norris issued back-to-back-to-back free passes in the second inning. Reliever Keegan Thompson then walked No. 9 hitter Hanser Alberto and allowed a bases-clearing double to Mookie Betts.

The Dodgers (18-7) finished with just 3 hits - one of which was a 2-run HR by Betts in the ninth inning - during a 6-2 victory in Game 2.

"It's really tough to even watch to be honest," said Willson Contreras, who had 3 of the Cubs' 6 hits in the second loss. "I know we're trying ... our best to win some ballgames, but things are not working our way."

The Cubs (9-17) haven't scored more than 3 runs in 11 straight games without the benefit of extra innings (they beat the Braves 6-3 in 10 on April 27).

Frank Schwindel (5-for-33 last 10 games), Suzuki (3-for-30 last eight), Michael Hermosillo (2-for-28 on the season), Ian Happ (2-for-18 last six) and Yan Gomes (2-for-29 last 11) are among those who are struggling.

"That is frustrating," Ross said of the lack of scoring. "The guys are still having good at-bats. There's not a whole lot of throwing helmets. At some point you feel like the ball will bounce our way, or some of those balls will fall in."

Back to the opener: Would the mistakes on the base paths have mattered in the end? Probably not. But bad baserunning is a surefire way to kill momentum against one of the best pitchers in baseball.

"Can't afford those against a really good pitcher and a really good team," Ross said.

Kershaw (4-1) allowed 5 hits, walked one and struck out two in 7 innings to lower his ERA to 1.80.

Drew Smyly (1-3) threw 4.33 innings for the Cubs, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks and 3 runs (2 earned).

In the nightcap, the Cubs had runners in scoring position in the second, third, eighth and ninth but failed to bring anyone home. The best chance came in the third when Suzuki hit a one-out triple to right and Ian Happ followed with a walk. Patrick Wisdom then popped out and Schwindel struck out.

"Tough stretch," Happ said. "That's to be expected during the course of the season. One of those moments where it doesn't feel like the hitting is timely and the hard-hit balls are getting down. ...

"We've played a lot of good teams with a lot of good pitching too ... guys with sub-3.00 ERAs. There's gonna be a point where we score 6, 7 runs a game for a week and it's gonna be awesome.

"But that's part of - as Joe (Maddon) used to say - embracing the suck. That's just part of it."