Dodgers lose 8-7, still clinch spot in playoffs

Brian Wilson wasn’t about to blame anyone else. He pinned this loss right on himself.

Chris Coghlan hit two homers, including the go-ahead two-run drive off 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 National League 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.

“It’s all my fault,” Wilson said.

He had help, actually. 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.

“I have to accept the loss,” Wilson said. “I’m fine with that. We’re not going home. We still clinched a playoff berth.”

Coghlan’s homer 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. Not bad considering he signed a minor league deal with the Cubs after being let go by Miami and got called up from Triple-A in early May.

“I just feel blessed at the opportunity I have,” said Coghlan, the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year with the Marlins.

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.

The Dodgers are eyeing a big run and they took one important step by locking up a playoff spot. A wild card simply won’t do.

“It’s not what we’re looking for,” Gonzalez said.

AP