Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Dodgers broke a 20-year postseason spell with a shocking sweep, while extending the playoff futility for the Chicago Cubs to a century without a championship.
James Loney doubled in two runs in the first inning and Russell Martin had an RBI double in the fifth, backing the strong pitching of Hiroki Kuroda as Los Angeles moved to the National League Championship Series with a 3-1 victory over the Cubs.
The Dodgers swept the best-of-five Division Series against the team with the top record in the National League and will face either Milwaukee or Philadelphia in the NLCS. The Brewers staved off elimination in the other first-round series with a 4-1 win Saturday, forcing Game 4 Sunday.
Kuroda (1-0) allowed six hits, walked two and had four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings, consistently dodging trouble as the Dodgers swept a postseason set for the first time since beating the New York Yankees in the 1963 World Series. This was also the Dodgers' first postseason series triumph since 1988 when they beat Oakland to win the Fall Classic.
Jonathan Broxton retired the side in order in the ninth inning to get the save, fanning Alfonso Soriano to end it and sending the Dodgers into celebratory mode on the field before their frenzied fans.
It was also a sweet moment for Manny Ramirez and Joe Torre. Ramirez, acquired in mid-season from Boston, walked twice, singled and scored on Saturday. Torre, in his first year as manager of the team, has the Dodgers roaring again.
Despite winning 97 games during the regular season, the Cubs couldn't carry that momentum into the playoffs. They were outscored 20-6 in the sweep and lost their ninth straight playoff game since an infamous collapse during the 2003 NLCS against the Florida Marlins. The Cubs haven't won the World Series since 1908.
Rich Harden (0-1), acquired by the Cubs this season from Oakland, gave up five hits and three runs before being lifted with one out in the fifth inning.
Derrek Lee had three hits and scored the lone run for the Cubs on a pinch-hit single by Daryle Ward in the eighth inning, but the Cubs left nine men on base and went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Soriano finished 1-for-14 in the series.
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