The Los Angeles Dodgers appeared poised to break the game open early but squandered opportunities eventually caught up to them in a 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. The loss was Clayton Kershaw’s first in in seven career starts at Miller Park.
Clayton Kershaw was spotted a 2-0 lead before stepping foot on the mound but the Dodgers also left runs on the board in the first inning. They loaded the bases behind singles by Joc Pederson and Matt Kemp, and Yasmani Grandal’s walk.
Chris Taylor pulled a two-run base hit into left field, and that was followed by Cody Bellinger’s infield single that again loaded the bases. However, Chase Anderson struck out Kiké Hernandez with his 43rd pitch of the inning.
That marked a stretch of 10 batters retired in a row for Anderson, with the string broken when Kershaw walked on four pitches to lead off the fifth inning.
Singles from Pederson and Manny Machado followed, loading the bases and knocking Anderson out of the game. But again, the Dodgers failed to capitalize on their opportunity. Kershaw was thrown out at home plate on a swinging strike, Matt Kemp eventually struck out, and Max Muncy flied out.
Kershaw struck out the side in the first inning but otherwise was forced to work through trouble for much of the night. Keon Broxton’s RBI groundout in the second inning trimmed the Dodgers’ lead in half.
Kershaw managed to strand two runners in the third, left a man on in the fifth, but the Brewers broke through to take a lead the following inning. Christian Yelich ambushed Kershaw’s first pitch for a leadoff home run that tied the game.
Ryan Braun, fresh off the disabled list, doubled with one out, and scored when Max Muncy whiffed on a chopper to third base, resulting in an error. It was one of the Dodgers’ three errors on the night. Broxton’s RBI triple extended the Brewers’ lead before Kershaw could work his way out of the inning.
Of the four runs he allowed, only one was earned. Moreover, Kershaw finished with five strikeouts without issuing a walk.
Hernandez led off the ninth with a base hit but a double play followed, which proved key as Logan Forsythe blooped a single into right field before Corey Knebel retired Machado to finish out the save opportunity.
Of note, Justin Turner pinch-hit in the eighth and struck out swinging. Turner has been out of the lineup since July 12 because of an adductor injury.
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