In a jaw-dropping display of power, the Chicago Cubs absolutely obliterated the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, clinching a stunning 16-0 victory that marks the Dodgers' worst home shutout in franchise history.

Just one night after facing a shutout themselves, the Cubs unleashed a barrage of offense, racking up 14 runs and 15 hits in the final three innings of the game. This dominating win not only handed the Dodgers their first home defeat of the season but also shattered expectations for a team packed with high-profile talent and the highest payroll in baseball.

The Cubs tallied an incredible 21 hits, including nine extra-base hits. Surprisingly, five of these runs came against utility player Miguel Rojas, who had to step in as a pitcher when the score ballooned to 11-0.

"The boys came out swinging, and it was pretty cool to see," said Cubs catcher Carson Kelly, who shone brightly with two home runs and three RBIs. "We focused on working the counts and getting good pitches to hit—our mentality is to fight until the very end, regardless of the score."

Michael Busch was another star of the night, smashing four hits, including a homer and two doubles, while driving in three runs. His impressive stats against the Dodgers now include a .308 batting average with three homers and six doubles in just 10 games.

Ian Happ also contributed significantly with three hits and two runs scored. Meanwhile, rookie Miguel Amaya stepped in for the injured Seiya Suzuki and made his mark with a homer and three RBIs.

Kelly fueled a five-run seventh inning with a powerful 384-foot homer over the left-field wall, and added a monstrous two-run shot in the ninth that traveled 391 feet. He explained the unique challenge of hitting off a 40-mph pitch: "You have to time it just right; it's not about swinging hard, but swinging smart."

With this offensive explosion, the Cubs boosted their Major League-leading run total to 112, outpacing the second-place New York Yankees by an impressive 21 runs. They’ve outscored their opponents by a staggering 41 runs—nearly double the margin of any other team.

Busch had a near-grand slam robbed by Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages, who made an impressive catch to end the third inning. "I couldn't believe he got that—he's a good player! We’ll have to talk about that later," Busch remarked.

On the mound, Cubs right-hander Ben Brown delivered a flawless performance, allowing just five hits over six innings, striking out five while walking none. He relied primarily on his fastball and knuckle-curve, effectively silencing the vaunted Dodgers lineup.

This defeat raises critical questions about the Dodgers' resilience and potential recalibration as they redefine their season amidst fierce competition.