Matt Kemp doubled in his return from the disabled list, but was one of the few highlights for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who fell 2-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. It was the second straight one-run loss to the Brewers, and continued a pattern of close games between these two teams this season:
- April 17: Brewers 5, Dodgers 4
- April 18: Brewers 3, Dodgers 2 (10 innings)
- April 19: Dodgers 4, Brewers 3
- Monday: Brewers 3, Dodgers 2
- Tuesday: Brewers 2, Dodgers 1
That's five straight one-run games between these two teams this season, with four of them won by Milwaukee. The Brewers got seven strong innings out of Michael Fiers in his first major league start. The rookie allowed just one run on five hits while striking out three.
The performance by Fiers overshadowed 22-year old Nathan Eovaldi, who was very good in his 2012 debut. Called up from Double A Chattanooga on Tuesday to fill in for the injured Ted Lilly, Eovaldi allowed a first-inning fly ball home run to Ryan Braun but then nothing else. In seven innings, Eovaldi allowed four hits and a walk, while striking out four.
Andre Ethier went 2-for-3 with an RBI double to bring home the only run for the Dodgers in the sixth inning.
Kemp's double led off the ninth inning off closer John Axford, and was followed by Ethier getting hit by a pitch. But Jerry Hairston Jr. tried to bunt the runners over to no avail, and behind on a 1-2 count grounded into a double play that helped squash the rally. With Kemp at third, James Loney grounded out to end the game.
Clayton Kershaw takes the mound trying to snap the Dodgers' two-game losing streak on Wednesday night, facing Yovani Gallardo for Milwaukee.
For more news and information on the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.
