Cubs beat Dodgers, 8-4, in NLCS Game 1
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-4, Saturday night at Wrigley Field in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.
Game 2 will be played Sunday in Chicago.
Miguel Montero snapped an eighth-inning tie with the third pinch-hit grand slam in postseason history.
WATCH: A young Cubs fan got Montero's grand slam ball
Pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan was intentionally walked by Joe Blanton with two outs in the eighth, loading the bases and bringing up closer Aroldis Chapman's spot in the batting order.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon sent up Montero, who drove an 0-2 slider into the right-field bleachers for his first hit of the playoffs. The crowd of 42,376 at Wrigley Field roared as Montero rounded the bases and kept cheering until the veteran catcher popped out of the dugout for a curtain call.
Dexter Fowler homered on the next pitch as the Cubs rebounded quickly from a shaky performance by their bullpen. Adrian Gonzalez hit a tying, two-run single off Chapman in the top half of the inning for Los Angeles.
After Sunday, the series moves to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Tuesday and Game 4 on Wednesday. If necessary, Game 5 will be Thursday. The teams would return to Wrigley Field for Game 6 and 7, if necessary, on Oct. 22 and 23.
FANS OUT EARLY
Fans camped out early outside Wrigley early Saturday. Some got in line as early as Friday afternoon, hoping for last-minute tickets.
Tickets were available online, but for big bucks. As of 6 a.m., prices ranged from $175 for standing room only tickets up to $10,000 for seats behind the dugout.
It has been 108 years since the Cubs won the World Series, so the thought of getting one step closer is really exciting for fans and worth an effort to watch the game in person.
But some fans know this match-up won't be easy: "The pitching duel in the first three games is what we got to worry about...we have to win both games here or it is going to be ugly," said Mark Holden. "I think we are going to win both games here and it's going to go five and out. We'll lose Game 3 and maybe we'll win won other there and it'll be over with."
PHOTOS: Cubs fans celebrate team
Holden got in line at 8:30 p.m. Friday. He said he is 65-years-old and wants to see his team go to the World Series.
Those headed to the game are advised to take public transportation to Wrigley Field and to arrive early due to enhanced security measures.
Parking restrictions went into effect beginning at noon Saturday and last through the weekend. Violators could have their cars towed and will be ticketed.
Below is the Saturday roster.
PITCHERS (12)
6-Carl Edwards Jr., RHP
28-Kyle Hendricks, RHP
29-Rob Zastryzny, LHP
34-Jon Lester, LHP
37-Travis Wood, LHP
38-Mike Montgomery, LHP
41-John Lackey, RHP
46-Pedro Strop, RHP
49-Jake Arrieta, RHP
52-Justin Grimm, RHP
54-Aroldis Chapman, LHP
56-Hector Rondon, RHP
POSITION PLAYERS (13)
3-David Ross, C
5-Albert Almora Jr., OF
8-Chris Coghlan, OF
9-Javier Baez, INF
17-Kris Bryant, INF
18-Ben Zobrist, INF
22-Jason Heyward, OF
24-Dexter Fowler, OF
27-Addison Russell, INF
40-Willson Contreras, C
44-Anthony Rizzo, INF
47-Miguel Montero, C
68-Jorge Soler, OF
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
