LOS ANGELES -- After opening the postseason in a 2-for-28 slump, Anthony Rizzo followed up a three-hit performance on Wednesday with an RBI double on a two-hit night Thursday, and the Cubs rolled to an 8-4 victory in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.
Dexter Fowler led off the game at Dodger Stadium with a single off right-hander Kenta Maeda, who was coming off a four-inning start in Game 1. After a deep flyout by Kris Bryant, Rizzo lined a 1-1 slider into the right-field corner. According to Statcast™, the ball came off Rizzo's bat at 111.1 mph, making it the third hardest-hit ball by a Cubs player this postseason.
• NLCS Game 6: Saturday at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on FS1
Now the NLCS shifts back to Wrigley Field with the Cubs carrying a 3-2 series lead, moving to one win away from a trip to face Cleveland in the World Series.
Rizzo once again used a bat owned by teammate Matt Szczur. Rizzo generated all three of his hits in Game 4 -- a home run and two singles -- after switching to Szczur's bat midway through the game.
• Rizzo uses Szczur's bat, sparks Maddon's memory
During the regular season, the Cubs went 73-20 when scoring first and 48-17 when Rizzo drove in a run. The team is 48-13 (including postseason) when Fowler reaches base safely to start a game.