Brewers 4, Dodgers 3
MILWAUKEE -- Ryan Braun drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, beating out an infield hit to score center fielder Carlos Gomez, and the Milwaukee Brewers extended their winning streak to three games with a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in Craig Counsell's managerial debut.
The Brewers (7-18) had been stymied all day by Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who struck out the first four batters and eight in all while scattering three hits over his first seven innings.
His offense gave him plenty of cushion early. Center fielder Joc Pederson belted his seventh home run of the season, on right-hander Kyle Lohse's third pitch of the game, and Los Angeles (16-8) staked Kershaw to a 3-0 lead with two more runs in the fourth on an RBI single by catcher Yasmani Grandal and sacrifice fly from third baseman Juan Uribe.
Milwaukee finally got on the board in the sixth with back-to-back triples by Gomez and pinch hitter Gerardo Parra, but Kershaw struck out the next two batters to escape the jam.
He worked a scoreless seventh, but Gomez hit his first career home run with one out in the eighth to make it 3-2.
Adam Lind put the tying run on with a pinch-hit double to the wall in center. That brought up Braun, who worked the count even at 2-2 before chopping a grounder to Uribe.
He was ruled safe, scoring Lind, and the call stood after a review lasting about 1:40.
Lohse (1-5) lasted just five innings and was charged with three runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out four.
Michael Blazek (2-0) worked two scoreless innings of relief and right-hander Francisco Rodriguez worked a perfect ninth for his fifth save of the season.
Under new manager Counsell, hired earlier in the day to replace Ron Roenicke, the Brewers' offense looked very much the same as it had for the first month of the season. Kershaw didn't allow a hit until Lohse slapped a two-out single to center in the third.
Kershaw thought he had gotten out of the inning by picking off Lohse, but first base umpire Paul Emmel called a balk. That led to an argument between Kershaw and Emmel and brought manager Don Mattingly out from the dugout, leading to his ejection.
NOTES: Monday marked the managerial debut of Craig Counsell, who the Brewers announced as Ron Roenicke's replacement earlier in the day. Counsell had spent the last three seasons in Milwaukee's front office after playing six of his 16 seasons with the Brewers. Roenicke was fired Sunday night after the team opened the season 7-18. ... Los Angeles made a handful of roster moves, recalling LHP Daniel Coulombe from Triple-A Oklahoma City and acquiring RHP Matt West from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations. To make room for West on the roster, the team transferred LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu to the 60-day disabled list. Ryu has been out since spring training because of a left shoulder impingement. He's expected to return in early June. ... Dodgers Adrian Gonzalez was named National League Player of the Month after batting .383 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs in April.