The Los Angeles Dodgers outhit the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night but had a nine-game winning streak at Dodger Stadium snapped in the 4-0 loss. The series opener also marked the first time the Dodgers were shut out at home this season.
While Eric Lauer got through five scoreless innings, the Dodgers had multiple opportunities. One of which came in the second inning when Justin Turner’s single and Max Muncy’s walk put two on with one out. Lauer got Chris Taylor swinging before giving up a base hit to Gavin Lux.
Turner was waved home by Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel, only to be thrown out by Christian Yelich. Ebel’s decision to send Turner came despite the fact he had only started to round third as Yelich fielded the ball.
The Dodgers previously had success testing Yelich’s arm last week on a fly ball to left field that Mookie Betts tagged up on to score. Yelich’s throw went well up the third-base line to leave the Brewers without a play.
“He made a good throw,” Turner said of Yelich’s play Monday night. “Right on the money. It was a great send by Dino, obviously, with two outs there. Felt like I got a good jump, and was out. As soon as the ball is hit, my job is to go until Dino stops me.
“I wasn’t expecting him to stop me, and Yelich made a good throw. I think with two outs, 99.9% of the time we’re going to get the send. You throw a one-hopper right on the plate like that, there’s not a lot you can do. I got thrown out in Milwaukee too on a perfect throw. I got thrown out in Colorado earlier this year on a perfect throw.
“I feel like whenever the slowest guy on the team is running, outfielders seem to make perfect throws.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts echoed Turner’s sentiment, saying, “It was a good send with two outs. If there’s anything you could poke holes with is Yelich’s arm strength. But he made a heck of a throw.”
Turner had two of the Dodgers’ five hits off Lauer. L.A. went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine. “Just wasn’t our night,” Turner said. “I think we took good at-bats, hit a lot of balls hard but didn’t really get rewarded for it.”
Turner enjoyed Brusdar Graterol’s return
If there was one positive for the Dodgers to take from the loss, Brusdar Graterol collected two strikeouts and retired the side in order in his first appearance off the 15-day injured list.
“It was nice to see him back out there,” Turner said. “Pound the strike zone, a couple strikeouts, which is good to see. Just a nice weapon to have back in the bullpen.”
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