LOS ANGELES – Not only did the Dodgers need extra innings Saturday night to beat the Chicago Cubs, 5-2, on Hanley Ramirez’ 12th inning walk-off three-run home run which was the first walk-off home run of his career, it was done in a steady rain for those three extra innings.
Saturday night’s game – which began at 6:10pm – lasted four hours and thirty-nine minutes.
There must be some sort of adjustments needed to be made for today’s match-up by both teams considering the length of Saturday’s extra-inning affair.
I asked Dodgers’ skipper Don Mattingly what – if any- adjustments he’s made for today’s game after last night’s 12-inning marathon. To hear his response click on the video with this story.
First pitch for today’s rubber-game between the Dodgers and Cubs is 1:10pm. It’s a match-up of two pitchers who have hurled no-hitters this season. Chicago’s Edwin Jackson (5-11, 5.79 ERA) pitched his against the Tampa Bay Rays while L.A.’s Josh Beckett (6-2, 2.74 ERA) threw his in Philadelphia against the Phillies.
The Cubs won the first game of the three-game set Friday night dispatching the Dodgers’ Dan Haren beating L.A. 8-2. Chicago goes for their first series win at Dodger Stadium since taking two-of-thee at Chavez Ravine in May of 2011.
Beckett – who’s combined to allow eight runs in eight innings since returning from the disabled list on July 22nd after an injury to his left hip – last faced the Chicago Cubs in August of 2005.
The Dodgers enter the game in first place in the National League Western Division three-and-a-half games ahead of the second place San Francisco Giants tying their largest lead of the season. Los Angeles has won seven of eight coming in.
On Any Given Sports Day 
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