RAMON ALVARADO

The Los Angeles Dodgers were eliminated from the postseason Saturday night after losing to the Cubs 5-0 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

The Dodgers had Clayton Kershaw going on the mound for them in game six, but his magic seemed to have run out. He had been clutch throughout the 2016 postseason, racking up wins and even closing out games. But if there were a team capable of shaking up Kershaw, one would probably say it’s the Chicago Cubs. Sure enough, the Cubs’ bats did a number on Kershaw in the ever-so important game six of the NLCS.

Game six was rocky from the start for the Dodgers. Andrew Toles, the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter, started the game off with a single to right field; the very next batter, however, grounded into a double play on the very first pitch he seen. This led to a quick three-and-out.

For the Cubs, game six started as perfectly as it could have. After the quick top half of the inning, the Cubs bats got to work right away. Dexter Fowler started the Cubs off with a ground-rule double off of Kershaw. The very next batter, Kris Bryant, hit a single, bringing in Fowler and giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead two batters into the game. Bryant was eventually brought in to score and the Cubs got a two run lead on the Dodgers in the very first inning.

The second inning started off the same as the first for the Cubs. This time, Addison Russell led the inning off with a double. After Kershaw was able to get a couple batters out, he faced Fowler once again, with Russell still on second base. Fowler was able to get another hit off Kershaw, allowing Russell to score and extending the Cubs lead to 3-0.

The early runs were huge for the Cubs because they had a star pitcher of their own on the mound in Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks had the lowest ERA of any pitcher in the 2016 season, and his brilliance was on display in game six. He only gave up two hits, struck out six batters, and did not allow the Dodgers to score. Hendricks turned in a performance that most probably expected to see from Kershaw.

The Cubs eventually got two more runs on the board as they defeated the Dodgers 5-0. This ended an outstanding season for the Dodgers. A season that seen them go further than most expected, especially given all the ups and downs of their regular season. With plenty of young talent on the squad, the Boys in Blue will without a doubt be expecting to be in the midst of postseason baseball this time of the year next year.

As for the Cubs, they will now be heading to Cleveland to take on the Indians in the 2016 World Series. This will mean the end of one of these teams’ droughts. The Cubs have not won a title since 1908; the Indians, since 1948. This added element makes the World Series even more compelling.

Game one of the World Series will take place at Progressive Field in Cleveland, home of the Indians, on Tuesday at five o’clock p.m. It will be the start of a series that will definitely be must-watch TV for every sports fan.