CHICAGO _ Jose Quintana's scoreless streak ended Tuesday night at 16 innings, but he continued his recent mastery and was aided by all-around support by shortstop Javier Baez as the Cubs pulled away to a 7-2 victory over the Dodgers at Wrigley Field for their fifth win in their last six games.
Quintana pitched seven innings of four-hit ball in a 114-pitch effort, marking the third consecutive start he has pitched at least seven innings.
Baez's All-Star talents were on full display. He made a long throw from shallow left field to retire Justin Turner for the second out of the game.
Baez hit a soft grounder to first in the second, on which David Freese appeared to have an easy play. But Baez eluded Freese's tag with a fake to his left and dove safely to first base.
In the seventh, Baez cranked his seventh home run in the season off reliever Caleb Ferguson that landed in the basket in right field.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with two out in the eighth with Cody Bellinger at the plate against left-hander Kyle Ryan. Bellinger hit a hard grounder to shallow right center, but Baez was positioned perfectly and made a strong throw to retire Bellinger for the final out of the inning.
Willson Contreras highlighted a four-run first by pulling an 0-2 pitch down the left-field line for a three-run double off Kenta Maeda, and Daniel Descalso followed with a double to score Contreras.
Anthony Rizzo smacked a two-run home run to left-center in the second for his first home run since April 12 against the Angels.
Quintana, who threw seven shutout innings in each of his previous two starts, had his scoreless streak end in the third when he walked Austin Barnes, who scored on a double by Justin Turner with two out that barely eluded the glove of Jason Heyward in center field.
The Dodgers added another run in the seventh and had runners at first and second with two out. But manager Joe Maddon stuck with Quintana, who rewarded his manager by getting pinch-hitter Max Muncy on a called third strike on his final pitch.
Quintana also survived a scare in the fourth when Bellinger hit a line drive up the middle, but Quintana raise his glove in front of his left shoulder to make the catch.
Cubs starters have posted a 1.39 ERA with 15 walks and 70 strikeouts in their last 10 starts after posting a 6.52 ERA in the team's first 11 games.
