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LA Dodgers complete series sweep of Cubs

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-05 14:16

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-games sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 3-1 victory on Saturday to advance to the National League Championship Series.

Starting pitcher Chad Billingsley of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch to the Chicago Cubs during Game 2 of their MLB National League Divisional Series playoff baseball game in Chicago, October 2, 2008. [Agencies]

The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a double by James Loney. Starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda kept the Cubs in check into the 7th inning before relievers Cory Wade and Jonathan Broxton sewed up the win.

For Chicago, the wait for the team's first world championship since 1908 continues into a second century. The loss was the ninth consecutive playoff defeat for the Cubs, a team that has not been to the World Series since 1945.

The Dodgers have been transformed since the late-season arrival of Manny Ramirez, who hit .396 since joining them on July 31 in a trade from the Boston Red Sox.

Ramirez went 1-for-2 and scored a run in Saturday's game. He batted .500 in the three-games series.

The Cubs had the best regular season-record in the National League at 97-64 -- 13 more wins than the Dodgers -- and beat them in five of their seven matches in 2008 prior to the playoffs.

However, the Dodgers dominated the series, outscoring the Cubs 20-6 over the three games.

The Dodgers advance to the NLCS where they will face the winner of the Philadelphia Phillies-Milwaukee Brewers series. The Phillies lead that series 2-1 after a Brewers win on Saturday.

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