Baez's casual throw costs Cubs in 1-0 loss to Dodgers
LOS ANGELES - Manager Joe Maddon isn't worried about Javier Baez or his Cubs, even after Baez's casual throw to second base cost his team a pivotal series.
Baez and Ben Zobrist failed to convert on a fielder's choice and allowed a run to score in the eighth inning, and Brock Stewart and four relievers combined to 4-hit the Cubs in the Dodgers' 1-0 victory Sunday.
"We made a mental mistake at second and it costs us," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "(Baez is) a young player, but he has as much instinct for this game as anyone I've ever seen. I'm not going to beat up my guys."
With one out in the eighth, pinch hitter Andrew Toles was hit by a pitch, and then Trevor Cahill (3-4) threw away Howie Kendrick's short roller, allowing Toles to reach third.
After an intentional walk to Corey Seager and a strikeout, Adrian Gonzalez hit a soft grounder to the left side, away from the shifted Cubs' defense. Baez stumbled backward to field it and then threw easily to late-arriving second baseman Zobrist.
Umpires ruled a sliding Seager beat Zobrist to the bag, allowing Toles to score, and a review upheld the call.
"As soon as I saw (Baez) throw to second I knew I had a chance of being safe," Seager said. "Fortunately, it worked out for us."
Seager's right foot slid into the base with Zobrist's left foot just inches from coming down on the bag.
"I didn't expect to be late on the play, but we didn't communicate on the play," Baez said. "(Seager) beat the throw. Next time, I will be better and will be in my spot."
The Dodgers took two of three from the Cubs over the weekend.
Stewart struck out eight over 5 innings of 2-hit ball, and then Jesse Chavez, Grant Dayton, Joe Blanton and Kenley Jansen closed up shop. Blanton (5-2) got the win, and Jansen got three outs for his 39th save.
Stewart began the season with Class A Rancho Cucamonga and was making just this third big-league start. He struck out eight of the first 12 batters to set a career high and struck out six in a row during one stretch.
He also got his first major-league hit with a single in the third off Cubs starter Jon Lester. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fifth after throwing 80 pitches.
Lester struck out six and pitched 3-hit ball over 6 innings, and the Cubs also 4-hit the Dodgers.
"I felt efficient early in the game, but in the fifth and sixth innings they ran deep counts and made me work," Lester said.
Kendrick walked to lead off the first and reached third on an errant pickoff attempt by catcher David Ross, but Lester struck out Seager, Justin Turner and Gonzalez successively to end the threat.
• Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey (right-shoulder strain) will throw a bullpen session today at Wrigley Field. Maddon said Lackey is scheduled to throw a second bullpen session during the Cubs' homestand before a decision is made about when he will be activated.
• Entering Sunday's game, the Cubs (37-27) were one of two National League teams at least 10 games over .500 on the road. The St. Louis Cardinals were the other at 38-24.
• Jake Arrieta (16-5, 2.62) will open a seven-game homestand for the Cubs tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Last time out, Arrieta gave up 2 hits in 8 scoreless innings to earn his league-leading 16th victory against the San Diego Padres.