Montero’s grand slam helps Cubs defeat Dodgers in Game 1 of NLCS

It doesn’t look like anything is going to get in the way of a trip to the World Series for the Chicago Cubs.

After blowing an early 3-0 lead, the Cubs scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth to take Game 1 of the NLCS with an 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Pinch hitter Miguel Montero stole the show as he hit the biggest home run of his career. With two outs and the bases loaded, Montero blasted a grand slam off reliever Joe Blanton to turn the game from a nail-biter and into a rout.

Dexter Fowler then followed it up with a solo shot to send fans at Wrigley Field into a frenzy.

With the win, the Cubs won its first NLS game since Oct. 11, 2003. Coming in, the Cubs had dropped seven straight, including a four-game sweep against the New York Mets last year.

The Cubs jumped out early on Dodgers starting pitcher Kenta Maeda. Fowler started it off with a single and Kris Bryant then added an RBI double to left field. Jason Heyward then tripled into the corner and scored on a pop-fly by Javier Baez. Baez then advanced to third on a wild pitch and then stole home to become the first Cubs player to steal home in the postseason since 1907.

Cubs starter Jon Lester went six innings and allowed only a pinch-hit homer to Andre Ethier in the fifth. Lester is coming off his 6-0 mark with a 1.10 ERA at Wrigley Field after the All-Star break and won both of his outings in the playoffs this year.

Lester didn’t do it all as he had plenty of help from him teammates. Outfielders Ben Zobrist and Fowler made great plays and diving catches all night long for the league’s best defense.