Stats of the Day: In LA, 'son rises for Cubs

October 21st, 2016

Here are three interesting items from Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday …
• The Cubs moved to within one victory of their first NL pennant since 1945 in an 8-4 win over the Dodgers.
:: NLCS: Dodgers vs. Cubs coverage ::
Game 6: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET on FS1
In the sixth inning, with the score knotted at 1, Cubs shortstop connected on a two-run homer -- his second two-run shot in as many games. Russell, at 22 years and 271 days old, became the third player younger than 23 years old to have homers in multiple LCS games in one postseason. In 2003, homered in three games for the Marlins (against the Cubs), and in '15, homered in two contests for Chicago.
• Cubs second baseman doubled twice and drove in three runs. Baez -- 23 years and 324 days old for this latest contest -- has four doubles in the NLCS against the Dodgers. Those four are the most for any player younger than 24 years old in an LCS. In 2005, had three, a number later matched by ('08) and ('13).
• Making his 17th career postseason start, Cubs southpaw surrendered one run on five hits and a walk, and he improved to 8-6 all time in the postseason. Some other career postseason numbers for the 32-year-old (including two relief appearances): a 2.50 ERA, a 1.017 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 119 innings. Lester is one of 48 starters to have at least 75 postseason innings. Among these 48, his 2.50 ERA ranks ninth. He trails Christy Mathewson (the leader, at 0.97), Waite Hoyt, Bob Gibson, , Art Nehf, Curt Schilling, Chief Bender and Dave McNally; Lester's 1.017 WHIP ranks eighth, behind Mathewson (the leader, at 0.836), Gibson, Bumgarner, Cliff Lee, Josh Beckett, Schilling and Bender.