2008 Cubs Playoffs

2008 NLDS
Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs

Cubs win the NL Central with a record of 97-64, this was the most victories by a Cubs team since 1945 (98 wins).

Lou Piniella led the team to a 2nd consecutive playoff appearance.  It was the first time a Cubs team had accomplished this since the World Series champion 1907 and 1908 Cubs teams.

Unfortunately, a great season ended quickly as the Cubs struggled early both pitching, hitting and on defense and the Dodgers swept the Cubs in 3 straight games.  The 2nd straight year that the Cubs season ended with in a 3 game series sweep (Diamondbacks swept Cubs 3-0 in 2007).



October 1, 2008

NLDS, Game 1

After making a very successful transition from being the Cubs closer to a starting pitcher, Ryan Dempster struggled in Game 1 of the Series. Mark DeRosa got the Cubs off to a good start with a 2-run home run, but in the 5th inning, Dempster walked 3 batters in front of James Loney who cleared the bases with a Grand Slam.  The Dodgers won the game 7-2 to take a 1-0 Series lead. Manny Ramirez hits a memorable home run off Sean Marshall.  You can see him adjust his swing at the last minute to smash a Sean Marshall curveball over the left field wall at Wrigley.


October 2, 2008

NLDS, Game 2

In Game 2 of the NLDS, it was the defense that let the team down. In the 2nd inning, 2 Dodgers reached on singles against Carlos Zambrano and later in the inning, both Mark DeRosa and Derrek Lee committed errors that led to one run.  With 2 outs, Rafael Furcal drove in a run with a single.  Than with the bases loaded, Russell Martin got the big hit with a double that rolled all the way to the left-center field wall driving in 3 runs for a 5-run Dodger inning.  The Dodgers won the game 10-3.


October 4, 2008

NLDS, Game 3

In Game 3 of the NLDS, Hiroki Kuroda pitched a great game against the Cubs to win the NLDS clincher, 3-1 at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers defeat the Cubs  3 games to 0 to advance to the NLCS.

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