LOS ANGELES — — The Cubs came back to score the tying and decisive runs in a five-run eighth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers committed three errors in a 6-3 loss to Chicago on Tuesday night, with Japanese star pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga facing off.

The NL West-leading Dodgers blew a 3-1 lead and lost for the second straight night to the Cubs, securing their first series loss since Aug. 5-7 to visiting Philadelphia. Los Angeles’ division lead was cut to 4 1/2 games over second-place San Diego.

“We did a great job defending this series,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.

Chicago is four games behind Atlanta and the New York Mets, who are tied in the battle for the final NL wild card.

Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong robbed Max Muncy of a potential home run with two outs in the ninth inning.

“Honestly, it feels like he has some kind of Velcro or something in his glove, because he keeps making great plays,” designated hitter Seiya Suzuki said through an interpreter.

Crow-Armstrong made a great sliding catch off the warning track from Kiké Hernández to end the seventh inning at the stadium where he attended games as a youngster.

“I’m excited,” Crow-Armstrong said. “It feels better to win these last two and go home with some good momentum tomorrow.”

A leadoff walk by Alex Vesia, a throwing error by catcher Austin Barnes, an errant throw by center fielder Tommy Edman that ended up on camera near the Dodgers’ dugout and a fielding error by second baseman Hernández gave the Cubs a 6-3 lead.

“It was a frustrating way to lose that game,” Muncy said. “We made a lot of mental mistakes. We’ve got to eliminate those.”

Yamamoto retired his first four batters in his first start in nearly three months, facing Chicago’s Imanaga (13-3) in a game between former Japanese rivals playing each other for the first time in Major League Baseball.

“They’ve traveled halfway around the world and they’re still competing against each other,” Counsell said before the game. “That’s pretty cool.”

Imanaga allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings, striking out four and walking none.

“Today I pitched well because I was playing against him,” Imanaga said through an interpreter. “I had a limit and I exceeded it a little bit. It was a good day.”

Porter Hodge pitched the ninth for his fifth save. He stepped off the mound with two outs to go, complaining that his heart was racing. He had had this problem before and was cleared to pitch, Counsell said.

Evan Phillips (3-1) allowed two runs and four hits in the eighth inning.

Yamamoto allowed one run and three hits in four innings of his first start since June 16 off an injured list caused by a rotator cuff injury. He struck out eight and walked none.

“Today was pretty close to the best of the year,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “Today’s outing turned out much better than I expected.”

Before his injury, Yamamoto had gotten off to an impressive start in the Major Leagues. He was 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA and struck out 84 batters in 74 innings. He earned his first MLB win against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 6. Yamamoto signed a $325 million, 12-year contract with the Dodgers last season.

“It was good to see Yoshi back,” Muncy said. “His stuff looked really sharp, his speed was there, the execution was there, so it was good to see. We just have to get his pitch count back up and that’s going to be really, really important for us down the stretch.”

In front of 51,923 spectators, Imanaga and Suzuki faced Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani. They were teammates for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, winning the US title, although Suzuki was injured and did not play.

Suzuki finished 3 for 5 with a run. Ohtani was hitless in four at-bats. He needs four more homers and three stolen bases to become the first player in Major League history to have a 50-50 season.

“Yamamoto did really well, it was difficult to face him,” Suzuki said through an interpreter.

Edman hit two home runs on two pitches from Imanaga to make it 2-1.

Edman hit his first home run of the season into the left-field downfield seats with a 92-mph fastball early in the third inning, tying the game at 1-1. The center fielder went deep again in the fourth inning, hitting a go-ahead shot into the left-field pavilion with a 93-mph fastball.

The Dodgers extended their lead to 3-1 thanks to a homerun by Muncy in the fifth inning.

Chicago led 1-0 when Crow-Armstrong connected for an infield single to first base. The hit was made by Freddie Freeman and the ball went into foul territory, allowing Isaac Paredes to score, who singled the ball.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Anthony Banda went on the IL with a fractured left hand, the result of hitting a wall after his outing Monday. … RHP Tyler Glasnow (tendonitis) used his entire pitch mix in a bullpen session. “He tore the fastball,” manager Dave Roberts said. The next step is facing hitters in a simulated game Friday in Atlanta. … OF Teoscar Hernández (bruised foot) was available off the bench and is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday.

NEXT

Cubs: LHP Jordan Wicks (2-3, 4.03 ERA) is 1-1 since coming off the IL on Sept. 1.

Dodgers: RHP Bobby Miller (2-4, 7.79) tries to avoid a second straight loss.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb