In a reversal from Saturday’s frustrating loss, the Los Angeles Dodgers came up with one key hit after another to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 11-2, and earn a series win at Miller Park.
Matt Kemp led the offensive explosion with two home runs, giving him his first multi-homer game of the season and first since hitting three homers last April in another road game against the Brewers. Sunday’s blasts brought Kemp’s career total with the Dodgers to 199 home runs.
Kemp’s first home run of the day cut the Dodgers’ deficit in half in the second inning and sparked a five-run rally. His opposite-field shot in the third extended their lead to 6-2.
Kiké Hernandez and Logan Forsythe followed Kemp’s home run in the second inning with back-to-back singles. After Alex Wood’s sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, Chris Taylor looped a two-out, go-ahead base hit into left field to score both runners.
Brent Suter’s trouble wasn’t done there, as Manny Machado and Justin Turner combined for consecutive RBI doubles. The double and RBI were both firsts for Machado with the Dodgers, and it was Turner’s first extra-base hit since July 2.
Machado also made multiple highlight-reel plays at shortstop that proved key and further dispelled the notion he’s subpar at the position, a perception that’s been created by defensive metrics. The day wasn’t quite as positive for Turner, who was removed early due to right groin tightness.
The Dodgers turned the game into a route behind a second five-run inning in the fifth, beginning when Cody Bellinger tripled and promptly scored on Ryan Braun’s error. Forsythe and Austin Barnes each delivered run-scoring singles, and Chris Taylor’s sacrifice fly made it 11-2.
Although Kemp swung a big bat, it was Taylor who led the Dodgers with three RBI.
On the mound, Wood turned in a quality start despite a rocky first inning. A walk and singles loaded the bases with nobody out, and Travis Shaw gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead with a base hit to left field.
Wood’s second walk of the inning again loaded the bases but he induced Hernan Perez into a 1-2-3 double play to limit the damage. Milwaukee had the bases full in the second inning but Machado made a terrific play to rob Braun of a hit and at least one RBI.
From that point forward it was largely smooth sailing for the Dodgers’ lefty. He got through six innings with just the two runs allowed on five hits.
Caleb Ferguson backed Wood to convert his second three-inning save this season.
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