Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) – Scott Podsednik had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run and Casey Blake homered to lead Los Angeles to a 7-1 win over Milwaukee to complete a three-game sweep at Miller Park.
Ryan Theriot added a pair of hits, a run scored and an RBI and Brad Ausmus chipped in with a trio of hits for the Dodgers, who swept a three-game series in Milwaukee for the first time since May 23-25, 2003.
Ronald Belisario (2-1) earned the win by recording one out as the first of five relievers who combined to throw 4 2/3 scoreless innings behind starter Carlos Monasterios for Los Angeles, which has claimed four of its last five games.
Yovani Gallardo (11-6) absorbed the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits and a pair of walks while fanning 10 over 6 1/3 innings for the Brewers, who have dropped four in a row.
Podsednik started the game with a single and moved to third base on Theriot’s ground-rule double. After Andre Ethier struck out, Matt Kemp’s ground out delivered Podsednik with the game’s first run.
Prince Fielder’s solo home run to right field tied the game in the bottom of the fourth.
The visitors regained the lead for good in the next half inning when Ausmus scored on Podsednik’s single off the glove of a diving second baseman Rickie Weeks.
Gallardo walked with one out before Weeks and Corey Hart were hit to load the bases in the bottom half of the fifth as Monasterios was then lifted from the game and replaced on the hill by Belisario.
The right-hander struck out Ryan Braun and was lifted in favor of southpaw George Sherrill, who got the lefty-swinging Fielder to bounce into a force out at second base to end the inning. Monasterios was charged with the hosts lone run on a pair of hits while walking one and striking out three in his 10th career start.
The Dodgers took advantage of getting out of the jam by adding two runs in the top of the sixth on an opposite field home run to right by Blake.
A Podsednik base hit put runners at first and second with one out in the seventh and spelled the end of the day for Gallardo.
Todd Coffey took over and was greeted by consecutive run-scoring hits by Theriot and Reed Johnson that made it a 6-1 game. A wild pitch allowed Theriot to dash in from third with the final run of the contest.
Kenley Jansen threw two scoreless innings, including striking out the side in the seventh, and Octavio Dotel followed by replicating the feat in the eighth. Jeff Weaver set down all three hitters in the ninth to finish the game.
The Dodgers also finished their first three-game series sweep of the Brewers since May 5-7, 2006…Ethier was tossed in the sixth inning for arguing with the home plate umpire after being called out on strikes…Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez did not play after receiving his customary day off following a night game…The Dodgers also completed their first road sweep since taking all three games in San Francisco from June 28-30…Theriot has hit safely in seven in a row…Thursday marked the 71st anniversary of the first televised baseball game played at Ebbets Field between the Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds…Gallardo is 0-3 in his career against the Dodgers…Milwaukee is 16-29 in day games.