Brewers defeat Dodgers 5‑1 behind Contreras homer
MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — William Contreras belted a three-run home run in a four-run first inning and Logan Henderson pitched five scoreless innings as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 on Friday night at American Family Field.
The Brewers’ offense struck quickly against Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski, and Henderson kept the Dodgers’ lineup off balance all evening. Milwaukee improved to 30-18, while Los Angeles fell to 31-20.
Contreras went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs, leading a nine-hit attack. Henderson, who earned his second win against one loss, allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked two over five innings. Chad Patrick recorded his second save of the season with two scoreless innings.
The Dodgers managed only three hits, all singles, and stranded eight runners. Wrobleski, who entered with a 6-1 record, took the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits over four innings. He struck out three and walked two.
Milwaukee sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning. Jackson Chourio led off with a single to center, and Brice Turang followed with a line-drive single that put runners at first and second. Contreras then launched a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall for his fourth home run, scoring Chourio and Turang to give the Brewers a 3-0 lead.
Christian Yelich lined out to shortstop, but Andrew Vaughn singled to center. Jake Bauers singled to right, putting runners at first and second, and Luis Rengifo singled to left to load the bases. Sal Frelick then lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Vaughn for a 4-0 lead. After a walk to Joey Ortiz reloaded the bases, Chourio struck out to end the inning.
The Brewers added another run in the second. Contreras led off with a single to right, moved to second on a popout by Yelich, and scored on Vaughn’s double to center. Vaughn’s fourth double of the year made it 5-0.
Henderson retired the side in order in the third and fourth innings, striking out three batters in that span. The Dodgers finally put a runner in scoring position in the fourth when Shohei Ohtani singled with one out. Mookie Betts lined out to center, Freddie Freeman walked, and Kyle Tucker popped out. Andy Pages walked to load the bases, but Max Muncy grounded out to second to end the inning.
Los Angeles loaded the bases again in the sixth after Betts walked and Tucker walked, but Andy Pages struck out and Muncy flied out to right.
The Dodgers scored their only run in the seventh. Teoscar Hernández reached on a fielding error by third baseman Luis Rengifo to start the inning. Dalton Rushing singled to center, putting runners at first and second. Miguel Rojas flied out to right, allowing Hernández to advance to third. Ohtani then lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Hernández. Rushing moved to second on the play, but Betts grounded out to third to end the inning.
Milwaukee relievers Aaron Ashby and Patrick shut down the Dodgers over the final three innings. Ashby pitched 1⅓ scoreless innings, allowing no hits, and Patrick worked two perfect innings with two strikeouts. The Brewers’ defense also turned a double play in the fifth and erased a baserunner on a caught stealing in the seventh.
For the Dodgers, Ohtani reached base twice with a single and a walk. Betts walked twice but struck out once. Freeman walked twice. The team went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.
Wrobleski struggled with command early but settled down after the second inning, retiring eight of the last nine batters he faced. He allowed six hits over the first two innings before holding the Brewers to one hit over his final two frames.
The Brewers threatened again in the sixth when Ortiz walked with two outs, but Chourio popped out. In the seventh, Contreras singled with one out but was caught stealing second.
The game, which drew 36,446 fans, lasted 2 hours, 43 minutes.
Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Milwaukee Brewers 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 6. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Los Angeles with a 51.00 percent probability to win. The Dodgers had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 6 went over the over/under line of 8.