Dodgers top Brewers 5-2, take 3-2 series lead

WP: Clayton Kershaw (1-1); LP: Brandon Woodruff (1-1); Save: Kenley Jansen (2); Homeruns: none

an Oh-Oh Box Score

The Milwaukee Brewers used the “opener” gambit this afternoon/evening at Dodger Stadium. and for a while it looked like it would work. But the Los Angeles Dodgers hit late again, and came back from an early 1-0 deficit to top the Brewers 5-2 and take a three games to two lead in the best of seven series as it heads back to Milwaukee.

Clayton Kershaw threw seven innings and only allowed three hits and one run. He retired the last thirteen he faced and had the Brewers off balance all day.

Wade Miley was the announced starter on short rest, but he only faced lead-off hitter Cody Bellinger in the first, whom he walked. Brandon Woodruff came on and escaped the first with no runs allowed (for him OR Miley) after hitting his first batter, Justin Turner. The inning ended on a double play grounder from Manny Machado, the first of two on the day for the free agent to be.

The Brewers had one good inning at the plate, but could only produce one run, and it cost them. With one down in the top of the third, Orlando Arcia singled to left. Woodruff was up to bunt, and laid one down the first base line that David Freese allowed to roll foul rather than pick it up and get the out. Woody ended up walking, and Lorenzo Cain followed with a double to the wall in center. That scored Lando, and the Crew had second and third with one out and the meat of the order up.

But Kershaw came back to strikeout Christian Yelich, whose tough NLCS continued today. Ryan Braun walked to load the sacks, but Jesus Aguilar fanned to end the inning. That ‘K’ started that string of thirteen straight retired by the Dodger lefty, as he redeemed himself after his bad start in game one at Miller Park. 1-0 Brewers.

Woodruff shut down LA through the fourth, but the Dodgers plated an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game up at one. Chris Taylor’s bouncer up the middle was fielded by Arcia, but his whirling throw to first was in the dirt and bounced off of Taylor and out of play, sending Chris to second. Taylor stole third without a throw, and one out later Austin Barnes grounded a single up the middle to score Taylor. Game tied at one.

It seemed apparent that Woody was at the end of his effectiveness, but he came out for the bottom of the sixth anyways. Turner singled, Machado was hit by a pitch one out later, and Max Muncy punched a grounder to left through the shift to score one. With LA up one, Craig Counsell chose Corbin Burnes, who had worked two innings yesterday. Burnsey got a strikeout for the second out, but Yasiel Puig added a pinch hit single to center to give LA a two run cushion. Cain’s throw went to third, and Muncy was the third out in a rundown. 3-1 Dodgers.

With no life at the plate, it felt like the Brewers punted the game in the bottom of the seventh. Joakim Soria came back for the fifth time in five games, and LA touched him and Xavier Cedeno for two more runs on two hits and two walks (one intentional), and an infield out.

Zach Davies appeared in his first game on the post-season roster, getting around a one out double from Puig. Puig stole third as Austin Barnes struck out, but was sent back to third because Barnes’ bat hit Erik Kratz as he threw to third.

Pedro Baez had a 1-2-3 eighth in relief of Kershaw for Los Angeles.

Caleb Ferguson retired Yelich (now 3 for 20 in the NLCS) leading off the ninth, and exited for Ryan Madson. Ryan Braun grounded to short on one pitch, but Aguilar and pinch hitter Curtis Granderson had back to back doubles for the Crew’s second, and final, run. LA manager Dave Roberts went with closer Kenley Jansen to get your old one out, three run lead save, as he fanned Mike Moustakas to end the game.

After the off day Thursday the Dodgers and Brewers will see each other for game six in Milwaukee. Wade Miley will get his third start (kinda) of the series for the Crew. The Dodgers will counter with game two starter Hyun-Jin Ryu. Game time is 7:39 Central. LA can move on to the World Series with a win, or the Brewers can force a game seven Saturday night. Be loud for both, people!