LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Cubs tied the game and took the lead with five runs in the eighth inning after the Los Angeles Dodgers committed three errors in their 6-3 loss to Chicago on Tuesday night that featured star Japanese pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga.
The NL West-leading Dodgers blew a 3-1 series lead and lost to the Cubs for the second straight game, dropping their first series since Aug. 5-7 against Philadelphia and cutting Los Angeles’ division lead over second-place San Diego to 4 1/2 games.
Chicago is four games behind Atlanta and the New York Mets, who share the last NL wild card.
Centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong prevented a possible two-run homer by Max Muncy with two outs in the ninth inning. At the end of the seventh inning, he made a terrific slide catch in the sand by Kiké Hernández.
A leadoff walk by Alex Vesia, a throwing error by catcher Austin Barnes, a missed throw by center fielder Tommy Edman that flew well into the camera near the Dodgers dugout and a fielding error by second baseman Hernández helped the Cubs to a 6-3 lead.
Yamamoto struck out his first four batters in his first start in nearly three months, facing Chicago’s Imanaga (13-3) in a meeting of former Japanese Major League Baseball rivals pitching against each other for the first time.
“They’ve traveled halfway around the world and they’re still competing with each other,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said before the game. “It’s pretty cool.”
Imanaga allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings, striking out four times and allowing no walks.
Peter Hodge threw the ninth run, earning his fifth save. He left the mound with two outs left, and the Cubs athletic trainer and Counsell came out to check on him.
Evan Phillips (3-1) allowed two runs and four hits in the eighth inning.
Yamamoto allowed one run and three hits in four innings in his first start since June 16 after a stint on the injured list due to a rotator cuff strain. He struck out eight times and did not allow a walk.
Before he was injured, Yamamoto was off to an impressive start in the major leagues. He was 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA, striking out 84 in 74 innings. His first MLB win came on April 6 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Yamamoto signed a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers last offseason.
In front of a crowd of 51,923, Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki faced Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani, teammates for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, winning the title against the United States despite Suzuki being injured and not playing.
Suzuki finished the game 2 for 4 with two strikeouts. Ohtani was hitless in four at-bats. He is four home runs and three stolen bases away from becoming the first player in major league history to achieve a 50-50 season.
Edman hit two home runs after two pitches from Imanaga and took a 2-1 lead.
Edman hit his first home run of the season with a 92-mph fastball into the lower left field seats in the third inning, tying the game at 1-1. The center fielder hit another home run in the fourth inning, sending a game-winning hit into the left field pavilions with a 93-mph fastball.
The Dodgers extended their lead to 3-1 when Muncy hit a home run in the fifth inning.
Chicago led 1-0 on Crow-Armstrong’s infield single to first base that scored Freddie Freeman and bounced into foul territory, scoring Isaac Paredes, who hit a single.
TRAINING ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Anthony Banda was placed on the injured list with a fractured left hand. … RHP Tyler Glasnow (tendonitis) used his entire pitch mix in a bullpen session. “He ripped the fastball,” manager Dave Roberts said. Next up is a simulated game against hitters on Friday in Atlanta. … OF Teoscar Hernández (bruised foot) was available as a substitute and is expected back in the lineup on Wednesday.
Next
Cubs: LHP Jordan Wicks (2-3, 4.03 ERA) is 1-1 since being activated from the injured list on Sept. 1.
Dodgers: RHP Bobby Miller (2-4, 7.79) tries to avoid a second consecutive loss.
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