Dodgers 7, White Sox 6: A wild pitch plated James Loney with the decisive run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Los Angeles prevailed in a battle of first-place clubs.

After Alex Rios pulled the White Sox even with his second solo home run of the game in the top of the eighth, the Dodgers regained the upper hand in the bottom of the inning. Loney reached on a one-out pinch-hit single, moved to second on a walk, took third on a fielder’s choice and came home after Matt Thornton (2-4) uncorked a wild pitch.

Kenley Jansen worked a perfect ninth to save it for Ronald Belisario (2-0), who pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief.

Adam Dunn put the visitors in front with his major league-leading 23rd home run, a two-run shot in the top of the first inning. After Elian Herrera’s RBI double in the bottom of the first brought Los Angeles within a run, Paul Konerko and Orlando Hudson stretched the Chicago lead with run-scoring singles in the third and fourth innings, respectively.

Rios hit his first homer in the fifth to make it 5-1, but the Dodgers rallied with five runs in the sixth inning to claim the lead. Herrera tied the game with a two-out, two-run double and came in to score on a base hit by Juan Rivera.

Los Angeles starter Clayton Kershaw allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings, striking out seven and walked two. Chicago’s Chris Sale was charged with five runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking four.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Dunn, who has homered in the last five games he has started, struck out for the 100th time this season in his 222nd at-bat. ... Sale had won five consecutive starts. ... Dunn and Rios have already combined for 31 home runs, seven more than they totaled all of last season.