The Milwaukee Brewers capitalized on sloppy fielding for four unearned runs en route to a 5-4 comeback victory over the visiting Dodgers on Wednesday night, snapping Los Angeles’ five-game winning streak.
Milwaukee, which had just four hits, went in front 5-4 in the seventh when Joey Ortiz was hit by a pitch, and was sacrificed to second. Jackson Chourio blooped a single that right fielder Mookie Betts misplayed into a run-scoring error.
The Dodgers had tied it 4-4 in the top half of the seventh on a two-out RBI single by pinch hitter Miguel Rojas.
Brewers reliever Joel Payamps (3-5) retired all four batters he faced for the win. Devin Williams tossed a perfect ninth for his second save. Brent Honeywell (0-1) took the loss after allowing an unearned run in the seventh.
Milwaukee erased a 3-0 first-inning deficit with three runs in the second and another in the fourth off Walker Buehler, who was activated earlier Wednesday off the injured list.
Milwaukee tied it in the second with the aid of an error. Jake Bauers led off the inning with his 10th home run. Sal Frelick reached on a one-out error. Brice Turang tripled in a run with two outs and then scored on Chourio’s infield single.
The Brewers took advantage of another fielding miscue for an unearned run in the fourth to go up 4-3. Garrett Mitchell walked to open the inning, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and came home on a fielding error by third baseman Kike Hernandez
The Dodgers saw their lead in the National League West cut to 2 1/2 games over the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres, each of whom has won nine of their past 10 games.
Milwaukee, which avoided its first four-game losing streak of the season, leads the NL Central by 8 1/2 games over the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds.
The Dodgers also took advantage of an error for three unearned runs in the first off Frankie Montas. Shohei Ohtani reached on an error by third baseman Joey Ortiz to open the inning. Betts and Freddie Freeman each singled to load the bases.
Teoscar Hernandez walked to force in a run. Kiki Hernandez’s one-out sacrifice fly made it 2-0 and Kevin Kiermaier followed with an RBI double.
Buehler was inconsistent in his first big league start since June 18. He allowed four runs, one earned, on three hits in 3 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out three in an 87-pitch outing.
Montas allowed three runs (none earned) on five hits and three walks in five innings, striking out six.
–Field Level Media