updated 12:48 a.m. ET Oct. 3, 2008

CHICAGO - Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers look ready to run the shaky Chicago Cubs out of the playoffs early and extend their championship drought to 100 years.

Ramirez hit a mammoth homer to increase his postseason record, Russell Martin had a three-run double and the Los Angeles Dodgers took advantage of four errors by the clumsy Cubs in a 10-3 victory Thursday night that gave them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five NL division series.

“We’re going to L.A., we need one more win. We’re not there yet,” Ramirez said. “They’re the best team in the National League and anything could happen.”

But unless the Cubs can show some semblance of the team that won 97 games this season, they’re headed to another disappointing finish. Each infielder made an error during the game and the Dodgers scored four unearned runs in the second inning to jump ahead 5-0.

“It wasn’t good baseball. In fact, the last two days, that’s probably been the two worst games we’ve played all year,” frustrated manager Lou Piniella said. “It wasn’t fun to watch, I’ll tell you that.”

Chicago became the 23rd major league team to lose the first two games at home in a best-of-five playoff series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Only one has come back to win — the 2001 New York Yankees against Oakland.

Of course, that Yankees team was managed by Joe Torre, now in the Dodgers’ dugout.

“When you give extra outs, chances are they’re going to be capitalized on, and that’s what we were able to do,” Torre said.

The series switches to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Saturday night. Rich Harden will face Hiroki Kuroda, who pitched a four-hit shutout against the Cubs in Los Angeles on June 6.

“We’re going to come out and try to jump on them again at home. That would be nice,” Billingsley said.

Just a few days ago, Cubs fans were excited about the team’s chances of winning its first World Series title since 1908. But suddenly, Chicago is on the brink of elimination. The Cubs must win two consecutive games in Los Angeles to get the series back to Wrigley.

Billingsley shut down Chicago’s slumping lineup and Ramirez’s 26th postseason home run landed on the roof of the batter’s eye club in center, at least 450 feet away. It was his second jaw-dropping shot in two nights.

Meanwhile, the four errors by Chicago tied a division series record.

“This is a tough field. You’re probably not going to see as many mistakes at Dodger Stadium because the playing surface is so good,” said Martin, who capped the second-inning rally with three-run double. “The playing surface is the same for both teams. We just didn’t make as many mistakes as them.”

Billingsley allowed five hits and a run in 6 2-3 innings against the Cubs, who haven’t played like the team with the NL’s best record or one that went 55-26 this season in its home park.

After losing 7-2 in Wednesday night’s opener when starter Ryan Dempster walked seven, they played tight — even with ace Carlos Zambrano on the mound. Chicago dropped its eighth straight playoff game overall.

Billingsley said it “kind of” looks as though the Cubs are pressing.

“I’m not surprised, but I’m in shock,” Zambrano said about his teammates’ wobbly defense. “We have a good fielding team.”

Consecutive errors by normally reliable Mark DeRosa and three-time Gold Glove winner Derrek Lee led to the Dodgers’ five-run second.

Andre Ethier hit a leadoff single and when he took off for second on a hit-and-run, Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot, who was headed to the bag, couldn’t reach James Loney’s bouncer. The single went off Theriot’s bare hand and into left field, putting runners at the corners.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Home Game: Cards’ Pujols leads All-Star voting Opinion: Surprising Rangers receive All-Star snub All-Star starters, pitchers, reserves   Dodgers win in 13th as Ramirez rests legs Red Sox avoid sweep against Mariners Jeter, Matsui power Yankees over Jays Blanton outpitches Santana, Phils beat Mets   Padres send Hairston to A's for minor leaguers Rumors: Strasburg heading to Japan to pitch? Live odds Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: