Coghlan HR Leads Cubs Over Dodgers, 8-7
CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Coghlan hit two homers, including the go-ahead two-run drive off Brian Wilson in the eighth inning, and the Chicago Cubs rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 on Saturday.
The Dodgers were looking to build on a 3 1/2-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West after clinching a playoff spot for the fifth time in nine years on Friday.
Instead Los Angeles blew a five-run lead and wasted a pair of homers and five RBIs by Adrian Gonzalez.
The Dodgers were up 7-2 in the seventh, but the bullpen couldn't hold the lead.
J.P. Howell gave up an RBI single to Anthony Rizzo and a three-run homer to Arismendy Alcantara, making it a one-run game.
Wilson (2-4) came on in the eighth and things just got worse from there.
He gave up a leadoff single to light-hitting John Baker. Coghlan, who had four hits, put Chicago ahead 8-7 with a drive to right after Matt Szczur bunted into a force.
That made a winner of Jason Grimm (5-2), who pitched a scoreless eighth. Hector Rondon worked the ninth for his 26th save in 30 chances.
Coghlan hit a leadoff homer in the first and fell a triple shy of the cycle. He scored three runs and drove in three.
Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in the first. He added a three-run shot in the third, and the Dodgers scored four in that inning while chasing Felix Doubront.
Yasiel Puig had a bunt single, a double and scored two runs for Los Angeles. He also made a diving catch in center field and fired to second for a double play to end the fifth.
Dee Gordon had two singles for his eighth straight multi-hit game and scored a run. But the late rally spoiled what was looking like an easy win.
Los Angeles starter Roberto Hernandez lasted four-plus innings, allowing two runs and six hits.
Doubront gave up six runs and six hits in 2 1-3 innings for Chicago.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder inflammation) played catch before the game and will likely throw again Sunday, manager Don Mattingly said. He was removed from his start Sept. 12 at San Francisco after just one inning, and had a cortisone shot on Monday.
Cubs: C Welington Castillo was out of the lineup after getting hit by a foul ball and leaving Friday's game with a bruised left rib. X-rays showed no structural damage, although manager Rick Renteria said he was still a little sore.
UP NEXT
The Dodgers were still deciding whether to have RHP Dan Haren (13-11, 4.14 ERA) pitch Sunday or hold him back a day to go against San Francisco. If Haren doesn't start against the Cubs, Los Angeles will turn to its bullpen. RHP Jacob Turner (5-10, 6.20) pitches for Chicago.
(© 2014by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)
