CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 on Saturday afternoon. Here’s a quick look at the game.
How it happened: Chris Coghlan hit his second home run of the game in the eighth inning to give the Cubs their first lead of the day. The Cubs left fielder went 4-for-4 with a walk and three RBIs. Arismendy Alcantara hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to draw the Cubs within one after Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hit two home runs to pace the visitors to an early 6-1 lead. Gonzalez homered in the first and third innings off Cubs starter Felix Doubront, who lasted only 2 1/3 innings. Coghlan homered to lead off the bottom of the first, then singled, doubled and walked in his next three plate appearances before he homered again. The Cubs tallied once in the fourth, when Logan Watkins brought home Luis Valbuena, but a diving catch by Yasiel Puig in the fifth on a Jorge Soler drive halted a potential Cubs rally. A sacrifice fly in the seventh brought home the Dodgers' final run, and Anthony Rizzo singled home Coghlan in the bottom of the inning before Alcantara went deep.
What it means: It’s a signature game for Coghlan, whose eight home runs are one shy of his career high. The former 2009 rookie of the year isn’t slowing down at the end of the season and was a triple short of the cycle while getting on base in all five plate appearances. He has also played a solid left field all week. There’s no reason to believe Coghlan won’t be back next year in some capacity -- most likely as the opening day left fielder -- as the Cubs are still looking for guys who can get on base. Coghlan did just that and more on Saturday.
What’s next: Game 4 of the series takes place Sunday with Jacob Turner (5-10, 6.20 ERA) on the mound for the Cubs. Reliever Jamey Wright (5-4) will start for the Dodgers, who plan to use a by-committee approach to Sunday's game.
