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CHICAGO -- Andrew Toles hit a leadoff home run in the first inning and hustled his way to another run in the ninth as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 2-0 on Wednesday. Toles gave Los Angeles the lead when he took John Lackey's third pitch into the right field bleachers. It was his second home run of the season and first as a leadoff hitter.
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Toles helped the Dodgers get another run when he reached first base on dropped third strike. Chase Utley, who started the inning with a walk against Hector Rondon, scored on the play when the throw from catcher Willson Contreras went past first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Los Angeles right-hander Brandon McCarthy (2-0) allowed four hits in six innings. Relievers Ross Stripling, Luis Avilan and Kenley Jansen combined in the final three en route to the shutout as Los Angeles (5-4) snapped a three-game losing streak.
Lackey (1-1) allowed one run on four hits and struck out 10 in six innings.
Stripling entered in the seventh and worked 1 2/3 innings before Avilan closed down the eighth. Jansen faced four batters in a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season.
The Dodgers tried for an insurance run in the eighth, loading the bases with one out in on Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery. But pinch hitter Justin Turner ended the threat by bouncing into an inning-ending double play.
The Cubs concluded 2016 championship celebrations -- and distractions -- with a pregame ceremony on Wednesday as players, coaches and manager Joe Maddon were presented with oversized World Series rings featuring 14-carat white gold and 214 diamonds apiece. The ceremony was attended by commissioner Rob Manfred.
Wednesday's conditions were clear but cold and breezy with wind chills in the upper 30s at first pitch.
NOTES: Dodgers OF Franklin Gutierrez was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday after straining his left hamstring the previous night. Filling the roster spot is OF Trayce Thompson, called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Thompson was 0-for-10 so far in Triple-A through four games and struck out in a pinch hit appearance Wednesday. ... The Dodgers send LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1, 3.86 ERA) against LHP Brett Anderson (0-0, 1.59 ERA) in Thursday's series finale as Anderson faces his former team for the first time. ... After Wednesday's World Series ring ceremony completed the round of celebrations, now the Cubs settle into a regular-season routine. "I think our guys strike the balance extremely well," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "After tonight, symbolically we'll be able to move on without any goodies going on." ... The Hollywood Reporter said Wednesday that Cubs 3B Kris Bryant and RHP Jake Arrieta will appear in the NBC-TV series "Chicago Fire," scheduled to air May 16.
