Chicago Cubs fall to Dodgers 1-0 in series finale, on late errors

Often, late in the game, it’s a mistake by the pitcher that comes back to bite you.

The Chicago Cubs (82-47) lost a tense 1-0 game on some miscues by Trevor Cahill, the relief pitcher who come on in the 8th inning. Los Angeles (73-57) loaded the bases without a base hit and scored a run on an infield grounder that the Cubs failed to convert into an out.

Andrew Toles scored the run and broke the hearts of the throng of Cubs fans who attended the game or watched it on TBS.

Jon Lester (14-4, 2.70 ERA) pitched a terrific six innings and gave up three hits and did not figure in the decision. Cahill (3-4, 2.68 ERA) picked up the loss.

More from Chicago Cubs News

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis

This game resembled other Cubs-Dodgers games of the past when the Dodgers pitching just edged out the Cubs and the Cubs would lose by one or two runs. That was the case today.

The Cubs came into the bottom of the 8th inning locked in a 0-0 draw. Usually, a pitcher makes a bad pitch and the hitter swats it out. Not in this game.

Cahill hit a Dodger and on the next play, he made a two-base error on a bad throw allowing Toles and Kendrick to advance to second and third. Corey Seager was intentionally walked. Carl Edward Jr, then came in to relieve Cahill.

He induced a grounder to third that Javier Baez made a rare poor decision in throwing to the wrong base. Toles scored as the runner was safe on the throw to second, and the batter, Adrian Gonzalez was safe. Edwards got out of the inning without further damage but the Cubbies trailed a tight one, 1-0 heading to the top of the 9th. Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers’ closer came in and retired the Cubs in order to preserve the W.

Next: Cubs roster should stay as is

Chicago loses the rubber game of this three-game series with the NL West-leading Dodgers.

They will head back to Chicago to play the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday. However, they appear in control in the NL Central and lead the St. Louis Cardinals by 14 games heading into this game. Meanwhile, Los Angeles goes to 73-57 as they try to hold off the San Francisco Giants.

Vin Scully, famed Dodgers’ broadcaster, announced the third inning on a feed that went to Chicago cable viewers. Scully is retiring at the end of this season after a long and illustrious career.