Miguel Montero's 8th Inning Grand Slam Lifts Cubs Past Dodgers, 8-4, in Game 1

Miguel Montero hit a tiebreaking grand slam homer in the eighth inning against Joe Blanton to propel the Chicago Cubs past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-4 in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

Montero's grand slam is the first by a pinch hitter that resulted in the game-winning run in the playoffs, and was only the third in Major League Baseball's postseason history, USA Today noted. The homer also brought home Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward and Chris Coghlan and put the Cubs up 7-3.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had ordered Blanton to make two intentional walks in order to force Cubs Manager Joe Maddon to remove closer Aroldis Chapman, who was due up to bat, according to the Los Angeles Times. Maddon then decided to send in Montero.

The score was tied at 3-3 in the top of the eight after a by a single by Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez with the bases loaded against Chapman that brought home Andrew Toles and Chase Utley.

Dexter Fowler homered against Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda to put the Cubs' lead up 8-3, before Dodgers' Andrew Toles doubled to open up a Joc Pederson run for the final score.

The Cubs pounced Maeda from the get-go, with Kris Bryant hitting a double in the bottom of the first scored Fowler to put the Cubs up 1-0, ESPN reported. In the second inning, Javier Báez doubled to center to allowed Heyward to score. Baez later stole a base to put the Cubs up 3-0.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers made a series of line drives off Cubs starter Jon Lester, but it was only in the fifth that the Dodgers produced a run on Andre Ethier's homer, cutting their deficit to 3-1. Lester was relieved after the sixth innings and after making 77 pitches.

The Dodgers are relying on ace Clayton Kershaw to bail them out in Game 2 on Sunday. Kyle Hendricks will start for the Cubs. The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908.