Whatever Rich Hill managed to harness in a start against the St. Louis Cardinals, he failed to carry into Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Los Angeles Dodgers, however, picked themselves up off the mat on multiple occasions to earn a comeback victory in thrilling fashion.
Hill lasted just four innings, throwing a season-high 97 pitches. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits, and finished with five strikeouts but also issued four walks and was forced to work out of trouble on multiple occasions.
The first three Brewers hitters all reached safely, resulting in the Dodgers’ 1-0 lead being erased. A leadoff walk in the bottom of the first was followed by a double and grounder to third base that Kiké Hernandez failed to come up with.
Hill’s wild pitch allowed Milwaukee to take a 2-1 lead. Jonathan Villar walked with one out in the second inning, and soon after stole second base. However, he was stranded.
Matt Garza was also forced to an early exit but because of injury (chest contusion). He surrendered an RBI double to Adrian Gonzalez in the first inning, and failed to aid his cause in the third.
Chase Utley’s base hit and Corey Seager’s walk left two on with one out. Yasmani Grandal’s grounder to first base only resulted in a force at second. Garza’s error on a missed catch allowed Utley to score.
Jesus Aguilar’s solo home run in the bottom of the third gave the Brewers a 3-2 lead. Further inciting Hill, the homer came on an 0-2 count and with two outs in the inning.
Cody Bellinger stole second base after reaching on a generous infield single to lead off the fourth. Chris Taylor worked a walk, and the Dodgers later completed a double steal. That invited the Brewers to intentionally walk Yasiel Puig to load the bases with one out.
All three runners were stranded, as Hill popped up a bunt attempt and Chase Utley grounded out. Hill worked around a leadoff walk and one-out single in the fourth inning to end his outing on somewhat of a positive note.
Jared Hughes replaced Drake Oliver in the sixth and promptly allowed back-to-back singles to Taylor and Hernandez. The Dodgers’ second double steal of the game put runners at second and third with one out.
Hughes’ wild pitch allowed the tying run to score, and Puig’s RBI base hit gave Los Angeles a 4-3 lead.
With Kenley Jansen purportedly unavailable due to throwing 33 pitches in two innings of Friday’s win, the Dodgers looked to rely on a combination of relievers. That nearly proved too tall of an order for a bullpen that’s largely been dominant this season.
Ross Stripling allowed a base hit but otherwise struck out the side in the fifth. Chris Hatcher escaped a small jam in the sixth inning, then worked his way into trouble in the seventh.
Hatcher walked two batters, was called for a balk, then walked the bases loaded. He exited as part of a double switch with one out. Josh Fields not only failed to put out the fire, he allowed the Brewers to throw gasoline on it.
Travis Shaw hit a grand slam, and Hernan Perez followed with a solo home run. Puig’s RBI groundout in the eighth trimmed the Brewers’ lead to 8-5. Puig’s second RBI of the game gave him 31 this season, which leads the Dodgers. Bellinger is second on the team with 30 RBI.
The Dodgers loaded the bases in the ninth behind a walk, Brewers defensive miscue, and Austin Barnes’ pinch-hit single. Bellinger then worked the count full and walked to bring in a run. Despite the world of trouble, Carlos Torres remained in the game.
That proved a fatal decision, as Taylor drove a go-ahead grand slam halfway up the batter’s eye in center field. It was Taylor’s second grand slam this season and third of his career. Puig reached on an infield single and stole second base.
That gave the Dodgers seven stolen bases in the game for the first time since Aug. 23, 1999. Jansen allowed a soft infield single in the bottom of the ninth before converting the a save opportunity in the Dodgers’ wild 10-8 victory.
