Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (4/23/25): Cubs 7, Dodgers 6 – PCA Incredible Again as Cubs Sweep Dodgers
The Cubs and the Dodgers met on Wednesday night after a wild Tuesday contest that saw the home team tie it in the last at-bat before going on to win in extras. This was another high-scoring affair and Chicago’s bullpen was excellent, protecting a one-run lead to earn a mini-sweep.
Los Angeles grabbed the lead against Matthew Boyd in the 3rd inning on a two-run single by Teoscar Hernandez that made it 2-0. The Dodgers went with a bullpen game on Wednesday and the North Siders got to Noah Davis in the bottom of the 4th when Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a three-run homer to put the Cubs ahead 3-2.
Boyd messed up a potential double play with a bad throw in the 5th, opening the door for a big LA rally. Mookie Betts doubled home the tying run, then Hernandez cracked a two-run homer to give his team the 5-3 edge.
Left-handed reliever Jack Dreyer walked the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the frame, and Dansby Swanson made him pay with a two-run single that tied the score. Nico Hoerner brought in the go-ahead tally with a sacrifice fly and PCA singled home another to put Chicago on top 7-5.
The Dodgers cut the deficit in half when Andy Pages hit a solo shot off of Boyd in the top of the 6th to make it a 7-6 game. Porter Hodge came on for the 9th inning and went 1-2-3, getting Ohtani and Betts for the final two outs in the one-run victory. (Box score)
Key Moment
The Cubs had gotten a runner to third with nobody out in the bottom of the 8th and then failed to score, so it was huge for Hodge to pick up his teammates and get the save with little drama in the 9th.
Why the Cubs Won
The offense kept rolling and the bullpen shut down the very dangerous Dodgers lineup.
Stats That Matter
- Boyd did a decent job but made it a lot harder on himself with his error: 6 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 10 H, 4 K, 1 BB.
- PCA continues to prove he really can hit with three more knocks and four RBI.
- Nice to see Swanson getting a couple of hits to drop in after his early struggles.
Bottom Line
Crow-Armstrong is becoming a star in real time right now. This is what the Cubs were hoping for when they got him in 2021. Speed and defense were givens for the young outfielder, but now he is tapping into his natural power. If he can hit this well, the sky really is the limit. Amazingly, Chicago won the season series against the Dodgers. I don’t think anyone expected them to start this well.
On Deck
The Cubs have Thursday off before welcoming the Phillies to Wrigley starting Friday at 1:20pm CT. Colin Rea will start for the Cubs against Taijuan Walker in a game available on MLB Network and Marquee with radio coverage on 670 The Score.