Dodger Offense is Less Than Memorable in 3-2 Loss

Dodgers 2 8 1

Brewers 3 4 0

WP- Marcum (3-3)

LP- Harang (3-3)

S- Axford (8)

HR- Ramirez (4)

With Matt Kemp on the plane back to L.A. from New Mexico, the Dodgers weren’t able to overcome Shaun Marcum and the Brewers as they drop game one of the four-game series. The Dodgers had twice as many hits as Milwaukee, but they struck out 12 times and weren’t able to cash in runners in scoring position when needed.

Adorned with camouflaged “LA” caps, the Dodgers take the field after a pregame ceremony honoring US Army sergeant Luis Garcia.  Aaron Harang quickly gets the first out of the game by getting Corey Hart to ground out to second base. Norichika Aoki grounds out as well, but Ryan Braun draws a two-out walk after a ten pitch at bat and a barrage of boos. Aramis Ramirez grounds out to retire the side.

Shawn Marcum goes to work in the bottom of the first inning against the Dodger lineup. Tony Gwynn Jr. leads off with a nice single to right field. Jr. follows that up with a stolen base. Elian Herrera sacrifices Gwynn over to third. Bobby Abreu strikes out. Andre Ethier picks up another RBI (42) on a leg double hit the other way as Gwynn scores! The Dodgers take an early 1-0 lead. Jerry Hairston Jr. flies out to end the first inning.

George Kottaras starts off the second inning by drawing a walk. Rickie Weeks is way out in front of a Harang slider and goes down on strikes for the first out. Cody Ransom also strikes out, and Nyjer Morgan grounds out.

James Loney flies out in the bottom of the second for the first out. A.J. Ellis hits a little dribbler up third, and he reaches safely on an infield single. Dee Gordon waves at a pitch that is way out of the strike zone and strikes out. Harang grounds out.

Harang strikes out the opposing pitcher Marcum to begin the third. Corey Hart strikes out looking. Aoki slaps a two-out single to left field. Bobby Abreu makes a sliding catch to rob Braun of a single. Abreu is much better out there in left than Jerry Sands or Juan Rivera is.

Tony Gwynn and Herrera both strike out in the bottom of the third. Bobby Abreu singles to right with two outs. Ethier singles, and Jerry Hairston walks to load the bases up. Unfortunately Loney is the batter, and he wastes the opportunity by flying out.

In the fourth, the Brewers ties up the game off a solo homer by Aramis Ramirez. Rickie Weeks singles, but Ransom grounds into an inning

ending double play.

In the bottom half of the fourth, the Dodgers go down in order. Dee Gordon strikes out for the second time in the game.

Aaron Harang has an easy inning in the fifth, and the Brew Crew goes down 1-2-3.

Marcum strikes out Gwynn for the second time to start the bottom of the fifth. Herrera and Abreu both ground out, and the Dodgers have totally stalled out.

Norichika reaches safely on a routine grounder to Harang who draws an error on his throw to first base. The first base umpire says the throw pulled Loney off the bag, but it is clear from the replay that Loney had his foot on the bag before he stepped to the side. Don Mattingly comes out to argue to no avail. Ryan Braun walks, and the Brewers have two on with nobody out. Milwaukee takes a 2-1 lead on a Ramirez single to center. Mattingly saw enough, and he makes the call to the pen for Javy Guerra. Kottaras grounds bunts into a force out at second. Weeks’ fly ball is plenty deep to score Braun, and Milwaukee is up 3-1. Guerra strikes out Ransom to finally end the inning.

Aaron Harang pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and four strikeouts on 96 pitches.

Jerry Hairston gets a one-out single in the Dodger half of the sixth. James Loney draws a walk, and the Dodgers have two on. A.J. Ellis hits into a force play. Dee Gordon strikes out for the third time, and both runners are stranded.

Todd Coffey comes in for the seventh and surprisingly pitches a good inning. He walks Shaun Marcum, but he strikes out Hart and Aoki.

The Dodgers go down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh. Adam Kennedy and Elian Herrera both whiff uselessly.

Ronald Belisario is in for the eighth for the Dodgers. Belisario gets Braun to ground out, but then he hits Ramirez with a pitch. Kottaras lines out to Abreu. Rickie Weeks strikes out again, and the Brewers are finished in the eighth.

Francisco Rodriguez pitches the bottom of the eighth for the Brewers. Shaun Marcum pitched 7 innings, allowing just 1 run off 6 hits, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts on 119 pitches. Bobby Abreu leads off with a single to right, and here comes Andre Ethier to represent the tying run. Abreu steals second (his first steal of the season).The old guy still has some spring in his step. Ethier strikes out, and that’s the tenth Dodger to whiff in the game. If you remember, ten Dodgers struck out against J.A. Happ last night. JHair’s long single to left scores Abreu, and it’s now a one-run ballgame! 3-2 Brewers. Loney pops up for the second out. He’s been totally useless tonight. With the runner going, A.J. strikes out on a ball down and away. A.J. is mad at himself for going after that ball.

Jamey Wright is in for the ninth. Jamey strikes out Ransom, and gets Morgan to ground out on a bunt attempt. Carlos Gomez grounds out.

John Axford a.k.a Ax is asked to close up shop in the bottom of the ninth for the Brewers. Gordon doesn’t strike out this time, but he does make out on a high chopper to short. Axford is hitting 99-100 mph on the gun.  Ivan De Jesus comes in to pinch-hit, and he draws a walk. Tony Gwynn hits into a force play, and the Dodgers are still alive for the moment. With Elian Herrera batting, Gwynn takes second base on a wild pitch. Herrera strikes out for the third time, and that’s that.

The Dodgers are now 32-16, and the Giants pick up a game and move to 6 1/2 back in the standings. Tomorrow the Dodgers will try to bounce back with Matt Kemp ready to make up for lost time. Nathan Eovaldi will make his first start for the Dodgers in place of Ted Lilly who landed on the DL with a rusty neck and or shoulder. Game time is at 7:10 pm tomorrow. Have a nice Memorial Day, everyone!