Dodgers edge ever closer to World Series

Yu Darvish pitched 6.1 innings of dominant ball, Chris Taylor homered and tripled for a pair of RBI and Andre Ethier made an appearance with a second inning jack to right field as the Dodgers downed the Cubs 6-1 last night to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the NLCS and bring anguish to Wrigleyville.

The Dodgers are now a win away from returning to the World Series for the first time since 1988 and they are doing it with a flourish.

The Dodgers have won six games in a row in the playoffs with a three-game sweep of Arizona in the NLDS preceeding their strong start against the defending champions.

Los Angeles has two tries to clinch tonight and tomorrow night in Chicago or face a return to L.A. with the Cubs now facing elimination in every game.

The Dodgers will send southpaw Alex Wood (16-3, 2.72 ERA) to the hill against Chicago's Jake Arrieta (14-10, 3.53 ERA) for Game Four.

The Dodgers used the same script as in the previous wins against the Cubs: strong starting pitching, timely hitting and a bullpen that doesn't give up much.

Tony Watson and Brandon Morrow pitched in the seventh and eighth innings before Ross Stripling came in for the ninth. Stripling surrendered two hits, the first off L.A. relievers in the series, so Dave Roberts called on Kenley Jansen to shut down the Cubs, which he did, getting Addison Russell to pop out and Tommy LaStella and Ian Happ on strikes to end the game.

Darvish, now 2-0 in the playoffs, is proving his trading deadline acquisition was a smart move. Darvish is 5-0 in his last five starts with an impressive 0.88 ERA.