The Los Angeles Dodgers hit more home runs than the Milwaukee Brewers, but Craig Kimbrel blew a save opportunity in their 5-3 loss in 11 innings. The win was the Brewers’ first against the Dodgers in six meetings.
A single by Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman’s double gave the Dodgers two runners in scoring position with one out in the first inning, but nothing came of the opportunity. Brandon Woodruff otherwise was dominant his first two times through the Dodgers lineup.
Justin Turner’s leadoff walk in the second inning was followed by Woodruff retiring the next eight batters faced. The streak was snapped on Turner’s base hit with two outs in the fourth inning.
By that point Woodruff had been staked a 2-0 lead behind Willy Adames’ home run in the first inning.
Joey Gallo got the Dodgers on the board with a leadoff home run in the fifth, his third long ball since being traded to the team. Mookie Betts added his 27th homer of the season to tie the game before Woodruff could get out of the inning.
Ryan Pepiot was unable to keep the score tied as he surrendered a go-ahead solo home run to Christian Yelich in the bottom of the fifth. That was Yelich’s first home run since July 2 and it ended an 0-for-26 skid.
American Family Field continued to live up to its reputation of being hitter-friendly in the seventh inning, when Taylor lifted a game-tying home run to right-center field.
Having already contributed with his bat, Taylor evoked memories of Game 7 of the 2018 National League Championship Series with a game-saving catch to end the 10th inning.
Turner tried to ensure Taylor’s diving catch wouldn’t be for naught by providing the go-ahead RBI single in the 11th inning.
Kimbrel couldn’t protect the lead, however, and the Dodgers fell to 2-6 in extra innings this year.
Dodgers bullpen nearly perfect
Dodgers relief pitchers combined to retire the first 24 batters faced in the series against the Brewers. The string was snapped when Phil Bickford issued a two-out walk in the ninth.
The Dodgers bullpen tossed 9.1 hitless innings before Hunter Renfroe’s leadoff bunt single in the bottom of the 11th. That put the winning run on base, and Kimbrel loaded them with a one-out walk before blowing his fourth save of the season.
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