One night after being jobbed into a loss on a terrible call at home plate, the Dodgers were able to grab one in Milwaukee on Thursday afternoon, 4-3. With the win, the Dodgers have now 10 wins to join the Rangers and Nationals as the first to the double-digit club.
It was another back-and-forth game, as both teams were about as evenly matched as you could get. The Dodgers got a run in the second. Andre Ethier doubled with one down, followed by Jerry Hairston, Jr. getting beaned and James Loney walking. Matt Treanor got a start at catcher and hit a sac-fly RBI for the 1-0 lead.
The Brewers surged ahead immediately after that, as they put up a two-spot in the second off of Aaron Harang. Singles by George Kottaras and Alex Gonzalez started it. Travis Ishikawa hit an RBI double to tie it, and Randy Wolf's sac-fly RBI gave them a 2-1 advantage.
As has been the theme these three games, the losing team responded. The Dodgers used four straight singles to get the lead right back in the third. It started with Mark Ellis and Matt Kemp, and followed with RBI singles by Juan Rivera and Ethier, and it was now 3-2.
With Harang settling in, Mr. Everything Matt Kemp did what he does best in the fifth. His seventh homer of the season came leading off, as the Dodgers increased their lead to 4-2.
You knew the Brewers wouldn't go away quietly, and they started chipping away at their deficit in the sixth. Aramis Ramirez reached base leading off on a single, and two outs later Gonzalez did the same to keep the inning alive. Ishikawa hit an RBI single to make it 4-3. Mat Gamel pinch-hit for Wolf, but struck out to end the threat.
The game was now turned over to the bullpen, something the Dodgers haven't had any success with through the first two games. Whom did Don Mattingly call upon in this spot? If you guessed Jamey Wright, it's probably because you either watched the game, or were lying. He's not exactly the guy you would think of late in the game like that.
But, with Matt Guerrier ineffective the last two days, and with Kenley Jansen more of an eighth-inning guy, Wright got the ball, and boy was he lights-out. He stayed two innings and struck out the first five batters he faced. He did walk Kottaras, but got pinch-runner Carlos Gomez to be stranded at third to end the inning on a fantastic, diving stop by Hairston at third.
Javy Guerra blew his first save on Tuesday, so he was looking for some revenge. Once again, it was the defense of Hairston that helped, as his barehanded throw on a bunt by Ishikawa got the first out. Two strikeouts later, Guerra had his sixth save.
Like I said before, both of these teams played to a virtual standstill throughout. The Brewers took two of three by a score of 11-10. But it's not like the Dodgers were giving much of a chance on Wednesday, as they were screwed on a terrible call at home plate. Just watch the replay, and you'll know.
After starting off the season getting roughed up in San Diego, Harang has turned things around since. He got his first win by going six innings for eight hits, three runs, one walk, and four strikeouts. Even without Prince Fielder, the Brewers can still hit, so the Dodgers will take a start like this out of their #5 guy.
Hairston and Wright were the true stars, as they put on a serious show. Hairston made a loud claim to get more starts at third, especially with Juan Uribe sidelined for now with a wrist injury. Wright has been scoreless in four of his five appearances.
With the Dodgers now at 10-3, they have a great chance to get even better as they travel to Houston to take on the hapless Astros. The first game won't be easy, though, as Ted Lilly makes his second start against the solid J.A. Happ.
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