A seven-game winning streak looked like a distinct possibility when Andre Ethier blasted a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth.
And then Javy Guerra gave it all right back.
George Kottaras sent the Brewer fans home happy with a pinch-hit, two-run, walk-off double to give the Brewers a 5-4 victory over the Dodgers. It's the first blown save of the season for Guerra after converting five straight.
Dee Gordon started off the game right where he left off on Sunday by hitting a single. The down side is that he then got picked off of first by about three miles. Wouldn't you know it, Matt Kemp soon cracked a double to dead center but was stranded.
Chad Billingsley had been practically untouchable coming into this game, but was hit around in the second. It started on a long solo shot from young Mat Gamel, who's taking over the spot vacated by Prince Fielder at first. Jonathan Lucroy then tripled and scored on an RBI from old friend Cesar Izturis, who was a Dodger All-Star back in 2005. Rickie Weeks added a ground rule double but was left on, as the Brewers led 2-0.
Not much was happening for the Dodgers until the fifth. Juan Rivera doubled leading off, and runners were on the corners on James Loney's single. Juan Uribe then popped one up to shallow right that was gloved by Weeks, but was then dropped on the transfer as Rivera easily scored, making it 2-1.
The game became tied in the seventh. Ethier had a big night, and he doubled leading off. A groundout by Rivera sent him to third. He then scored on... you guessed it, another double, this time by Loney, as the game was tied 2-2.
With a fresh start, Matt Guerrier was called upon to get through the seventh, but scuffled a bit. Gamel singled leading off and stole second with one out. Izturis singled again (I swear those have been his only two hits since leaving the Dodgers). Norichika Aoki pinch-hit and laid down a beautiful suicide squeeze to give the Brewers a 3-2 lead.
Like the Dodgers have done in almost every game thus far, they showed a lot of fight in battling back. Francisco Rodriguez is a top setup man, but he didn't get the job done in this spot. With one down, Mark Ellis singled. Kemp struck out in a big spot, but Ethier immediately picked him up with a two-run tater to center, giving the Dodgers a 4-3 edge.
Kenley Jansen mowed through the heart of the Brew Crew's order in the eighth, looking every bit like the dominant setup man that he is.
Unfortunately for Guerra, he looked human last night, which is bound to happen for a young closer. It started by letting Corey Hart reach on a single. Carlos Gomez pinch-ran and stole second, as Gamel drew a walk. An out later, Kottaras smacked a game-winning double to hand the Dodgers their second loss.
Billingsley did a great job battling back from an uneven start, as he lasted six innings for five hits, two runs, no walks, and two strikeouts. He's been pounding the strike zone this year, which is why he's had so much more success than the last couple of years. It was a good sign that he was able to settle down after the second, as I'm not so sure that would've happened in the past.
Guerra will have better nights, as even the best of closers have off nights. His stuff just appeared too hittable, and he ultimately paid for it. Guerrier wasn't too bad, but a couple of singles did him in. Jansen's outing was a big positive.
Ethier's homer vaulted him above Kemp for the Major League lead in RBIs at 17 to Kemp's 16. The rest of the Dodgers combined have 20. I really don't need to say a whole lot else, as those numbers just show how dominating the Big 2 have been.
It's no secret the Dodgers haven't exactly been challenged by playoff contenders to start the season, but they are right now in the Brewers. There's two games left, so it would be good to get the next one on Wednesday before a day game on Thursday. Ex-Brewer Chris Capuano will go against Zack Greinke.
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