The Dodgers finally managed to break through a bit against Nelson, with Charlie Culberson’s solo home run in the fifth cutting the Brewers lead in half. Joe Blanton replaced Kazmir in the fifth and promptly allowed a leadoff double to Walsh.
Blanton nearly got out of the inning unscathed as he retired the next two batters, but Domingo Santana gave the Brewers some breathing room with a two-out RBI single. Utley hit a two-out double in the sixth, but it didn’t amount to anything and the Dodgers trailed, 3-1, through the inning.
Blanton struck out Liriano and Perez swinging and retired pinch-hitter Alex Presley to toss a scoreless bottom of the sixth. Michael Blazek took over for the Brewers in the seventh and induced an inning-ending double play with the tying runners on base.
After a leadoff base hit in the seventh, Blanton got a fly out and picked Walsh off first base. Ramon Flores followed a Kirk Nieuwenhuis two-out single with a lineout to end the inning. Adam Liberatore struck out Shane Peterson in the eighth, then gave way to Matt West.
The right-hander hit Liriano on the face with a pitch, sending him down in a heap of pain. A neck brace was put on Liriano and he was carted off the field while laying on a stretcher. West then induced an inning-ending double play.
Blaine Boyer entered in the ninth and allowed a two-out base hit before converting the save opportunity in the Brewers’ 3-1 win.
