Shaun Marcum pitched seven strong innings Monday night, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Dodgers, who fell to 21-6 at home.
Andre Ethier collected his National League-leading 42nd RBI with a double in the bottom of the first, but that was the only run allowed by Marcum. In seven innings, the right-hander allowed six hits and two walks, and struck out nine, and picked up his third win of the season.
Dodgers starter Aaron Harang had little trouble through five innings, allowing only a solo home run to Aramis Ramirez. But Harang ran into trouble in the sixth inning, which began with a throwing error by Harang. After a walk to Ryan Braun, Ramirez delivered an RBI single which chased Harang from the game.
Javy Guerra allowed one inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly, but that was all Milwaukee would score for the rest of the game.
The Dodgers pulled to within a run in the eighth inning on an RBI single by Jerry Hairston Jr., but Brewers closer John Axford closed the door in the ninth inning for his eighth save of the season. Hairston went 2-for-3 with a walk on the night, and is 9-for-12 in four games since returning from the disabled list on Friday.
Dodgers' 27-year old rookie second baseman Elian Herrera went 0-for-4 with a sacrifice bunt on Monday to snap his hitting streak at nine games. Monday was the only start for Herrera so far this season that he has failed to get at least one hit.
Nahan Eovaldi, fresh up from Double A Chatanooga, will start the second game of the series for the Dodgers on Tuesday, facing Michael Fiers, fresh up from Triple A.
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