LOS ANGELES—Two questions hovered over Dodger Stadium in the coolness of an early-spring late afternoon as the buses carrying the Cubs’ traveling party pointed south toward San Diego.
The first was this, inspired by the multitude of fans still snaking around the field after the game: How will the home team’s infield survive the pounding feet of the estimated 13,000 kids who ran the bases after the game Sunday afternoon?
Somewhere in the bowels of the stadium, it was possible to imagine the head groundskeeper, weeping bitter tears.
The second will require some time before the answer is fully revealed: Will the Cubs be back here to play meaningful games in October after the “Back-to-Back World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers”—it’s almost a requirement here to refer to them by that handle—recovered from a startling comeback loss Friday night to soundly beat the Cubs in both weekend matinees, 12-4 on Saturday and 6-0 on Sunday.
We should have a better idea by early August, when the Dodgers jet to Chicago for three games in Wrigley Field, the only other regular season rendezvous scheduled. But while this late-April exercise gave fans an excuse to contemplate autumn possibilities, the teams parted company knowing nothing certain other than it would do well for them to keep an eye on each other.
“The Dodgers have a fantastic team,’’ said Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga, who never recovered from a three-run yield in the first inning generated by a couple of walks, a throwing error by catcher Carson Kelly, a sacrifice fly, and back-to-back doubles by Kyle Tucker and Miguel Rojas.
“But I think when you look at the Cubs,’’ Imanaga continued, “look at all my teammates, we have fantastic players. And I want to be part of that, and be a fantastic player with the Cubs. And hopefully, we can make it out here.’’
Neither Imanaga nor the Cubs approached their fantastic best Sunday. Imanaga was
