Dodgers’ pen squanders lead in 8-7 loss to Cubs

Up 7-2 in the seventh inning, the Dodgers dropped an 8-7 heart breaker to Chicago today as J.P. Howell and Brian Wilson were tagged for home runs, giving up six runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

The loss wasted a two home run day by Adrian Gonzalez, a circus catch in center field by Yasiel Puig and an 11-hit performance by the Dodgers’ offense.

The only saving grace of the day came in San Diego where the Padres downed the Giants 3-2 to keep the Dodgers 3.5 games ahead of San Francisco with seven games to play.

Los Angeles will send spot starter Jamey Wright (5-4, 4.30) to the mound tomorrow to set up a Haren, Greinke, Kershaw rotation for next week’s three-game showdown with the Giants that starts Monday.

At 88-67, the Dodgers have the second-best record in the National League behind the Washington Nationals and fourth-best record in the majors behind Baltimore, Los Angeles Angels and the Nats.

Since the All-Star break, Los Angeles has been hitting well, sporting a .265 team batting average, third best in the majors.

Since the break, the lineup has been formidable with reserve Justin Turner at .373, Juan Uribe at .325, Gonzalez at .324, Carl Crawford at .317, Scott Van Slyke at .310, Matt Kemp at .299, Hanley Ramirez at .297, Dee Gordon at .294 and Yasiel Puig at .283.

Kemp has hit 14 homers and knocked in 45 runs in the second half and is returning to All-Star form after several years struggling with injuries. Gonzalez leads the league with 111 RBI and has hit 25 homers. Kemp has gone yard 22 times, 14 coming in the second half.