MLB/ Dodgers beat Cubs 10-8. Ohtani homers and steals a base

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with Teoscar Hernández (37) after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Los Angeles, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo)

LOS ANGELES--Gavin Lux singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the seventh inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied after blowing a 7-3 lead to beat the Chicago Cubs 10-8 on Wednesday night and avoid a series sweep.

Shohei Ohtani hit his 47th home run and stole his 48th base while three other Dodgers went deep in the first inning for the NL West leaders, whose magic number to clinch the division dropped to 11 after San Diego lost at Seattle.

Tommy Edman homered for the fourth time in 24 hours. His two-out, two-run shot off Trey Wingenter in the eighth extended the Dodgers’ lead to 10-7. The switch-hitter went deep in the first from the right side and then from the left.

Trailing by three, the Cubs threatened in the ninth. Dodgers reliever Michael Kopech loaded the bases on consecutive walks to Dansby Swanson, Seiya Suzuki and former Dodger Cody Bellinger.

Kopech was called for a pitch-clock violation, giving an automatic ball to Isaac Paredes, whose sacrifice fly cut Chicago’s deficit to 10-8. Suzuki was thrown out trying to steal third and former Dodger Michael Busch struck out swinging to end the game as Kopech eked out his 13th save.

Alex Vesia (3-4) got the win with one inning of relief.

The Cubs outscored the Dodgers 16-7 in winning the first two games. They took the season series, 4-2, as their eight-game road winning streak ended.

The Dodgers blew a lead for the second straight game. They were ahead 3-1 on Tuesday and lost 6-3. After their big first inning Wednesday, they eventually led 7-3 only to watch the Cubs tie it in the fifth.

Will Smith doubled off Shawn Armstrong (3-3) in the seventh and scored on Lux’s single to center, putting the Dodgers back in front, 8-7.

Bobby Miller put the Dodgers in a 2-0 hole in the first. He gave up back-to-back, two-out walks to Suzuki and Bellinger. Paredes followed with a RBI single and Busch added a RBI double for a 2-0 lead.

The Dodgers answered with four homers in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-2 lead.

Ohtani moved closer to becoming the first player in Major League history with 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season. He led off with a 405-foot shot to center off Jordan Wicks and then walked and stole second in the second.

After two outs, Teoscar Hernández singled and scored on Edman’s homer into the left-field pavilion on the first pitch from Wicks. Edman homered twice on two pitches against the Cubs on Tuesday.

Smith followed with a 404-foot shot to nearly the same spot in left. Max Muncy came up next and sent a towering 401-foot blast to right field on his bobblehead night.

Bellinger hit a three-run shot in the fifth that chased Miller and left Chicago trailing 7-6. The Cubs loaded the bases on two walks by Daniel Hudson and an error by second baseman Chris Taylor before Pete Crow-Armstrong’s RBI single tied it 7-7.

Trying to make his case for a postseason roster spot, Miller gave up six runs, including his 16th homer, and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander’s ERA ballooned to 8.17. He struck out two and walked four, including three with two outs.

Wicks allowed seven runs and eight hits in three innings. The left-hander struck out two and walked four.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Porter Hodge saw a doctor after experiencing a racing heartbeat in the ninth inning Tuesday and was cleared. ... LHP Justin Steele (tendinitis) threw a bullpen session and will do another one this weekend in Colorado.

Dodgers: RHP Tyler Glasnow (tendinitis) will throw at least two innings during a simulated game Friday in Atlanta. ... RHP Joe Kelly (shoulder inflammation) will pitch Thursday and Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma City before rejoining the team next week.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Javier Assad (7-5, 3.14 ERA) starts Friday at Colorado.

Dodgers: RHP Landon Knack (2-3, 3.00) starts Friday’s series opener in Atlanta against RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (5-7, 3.78).