It wasn’t easy, but the Dodgers won the game after blowing a lead, beating the Chicago Cubs 10-8 to avoid a series victory.

Bobby Miller was back on the mound, and the results continued to disappoint in what had been a struggle all season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hoped the right-handed pitcher would take a step forward, but he left his team stranded once again.

“Just some consistency,” Roberts said before the game. “I think we all know what the ceiling is of what Bobby can do. There’s a lot of things he can do, and every night he has the ability to dominate a game. I just think it’s the consistency of the performance.

“But every time I see him on the mound, I feel good about it. Like I said, I think he’s ready to have a good game tonight.”

Miller was able to record the first two outs of the game, which showed a promising start. But after that, things went downhill quickly.

Miller then walked two straight batters before Isaac Paredes singled to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. Michael Busch then doubled in another run to make it 2-0 for the Cubs.

Seyia Suzuki hit a home run in the third inning to score the Cubs’ third run and cut the Dodgers’ lead from 5-2. With the Dodgers leading 7-3 in the fifth inning, more disaster struck.

Ian Happ singled, Dansby Swanson walked and Cody Bellinger hit a three-run homer to make it a 7-6 game. That was the end of Miller’s night, as he finished his outing with 4.1 innings pitched, allowing six runs on five hits with two strikeouts and four walks.

Miller’s season ERA now stands at 8.17 in 54 innings.

The Dodgers offense showed up, started by Ohtani’s solo home run to lead them off in the first inning. After a two-out single by Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman also homered.

It was Edman’s third home run in the previous two games, after hitting two on Tuesday night.

Another home run followed, this time by Will Smith, and Max Muncy ended the inning with a third straight home run, giving the Dodgers a 5-2 lead.

It was the first time in history that the Dodgers hit four home runs in the first inning of a game. It was also the second time this season that they hit four homers in an inning. The last time was on June 11 in a 15-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Ohtani extended their lead in the third inning with a two-RBI single, scoring Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas, who respectively walked and singled.

With the game tied at 7-7 in the seventh, the Dodgers came back to take the lead. Will Smith led off with a double and he eventually scored on a two-out single by Gavin Lux.

Just to be sure, Edman hit another home run in the eighth inning, making it two home runs in consecutive days and giving the Dodgers a 10-7 lead.

Evan Phillips pitched a perfect eighth inning and Michael Kopech closed the game in the ninth, but not without drama.

Kopech walked the first three batters he faced before being struck out on a sacrifice fly. The next out was caught stealing, and Kopech struck out the last batter he faced.

Shohei Ohtani moves closer to history with Dodgers

Ohtani’s first inning was his 47th home run of the season, marking the first MLB-ever 47-47 season. It also brought him within three homers of tying the Dodgers’ single-season record and two shy of setting the record for most by an Asian-born player in MLB history.

In the second, he stole second base for his 48th of the year, and it was his 12th game of the season with at least one home run and one stolen base.

Only Rickey Henderson did it more often than Ohtani in 1986, with 13 that season. Last season, he tied Ronald Acuña Jr. and Barry Bonds in 1973 as the only other player to accomplish the feat.

Earlier this season, Ohtani became the only player to ever reach both 43 home runs and 43 stolen bases in a single season. Each time he reaches a new record, it continues to add to his milestone.

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