Ross bids Los Angeles farewell -- for now?

Cubs catcher, retiring after season, was drafted by Dodgers

August 29th, 2016

LOS ANGELES -- Maybe will get another at-bat at Dodger Stadium. He hopes so.
The veteran catcher, who was the Dodgers' seventh-round pick in 1998 and is retiring after this season, said goodbye on Sunday. Ross started for the Cubs, who lost, 1-0. Ross struck out to end the game.
"Hopefully, that's not my last at-bat here in this stadium, right?" said Ross, 39, knowing the Cubs and Dodgers could meet again in the postseason.
Ross made his Major League debut on June 29, 2002, but that was down Interstate 5 in Anaheim. He did not play in a game at Dodger Stadium until Sept. 8 that year. He did make his first start at catcher on July 6, 2002, in St. Louis, and threw out Edgar Renteria in the fifth inning. Dodgers broadcacster Vin Scully knew that, and asked Ross if he remembered when the two met on Friday. The starting pitcher that day was Hideo Nomo, and it also happened to be an 11-inning game, and Ross caught all 11.
Sunday's game did not start well for Ross. walked to lead off the Dodgers' first, and after struck out the next two batters, Ross tried to catch Kendrick napping at first. But Ross' throw sailed into right field for an error, allowing Kendrick to reach third. Lester shrugged it off and struck out . It was Ross' ninth error, a career high.
Lester and Ross did team up for six shutout innings, and a much-needed double play to end the fourth and strand a runner at second. Despite the loss, the Cubs finished their West Coast road trip, 5-4.
"When you go on the road and you're above .500, it's good," Lester said.

Ross could smile after the game ended. After all, he and were wearing matching Planter's Peanut fleece onesies, part of the Cubs' pajama party for the flight back to Chicago. had a Cubs logo onesie, wore a blue camouflage one, and Lester and were in patriotic red, white and blue fleece.

"There's worse spots to be in -- 14 games up in almost September is not a bad spot to be," Ross said. "I thought we played good baseball today. We pitched really well, extremely well. Just a couple mistakes that we'll learn from, which is good. That's all you can ask for."