MILWAUKEE — Victor Caratini hit a two-run single in the 11th inning against the Dodgers, closer to Craig Kimbrel, and rallied the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 over Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
“I just tried to make contact,” said Caratini, who was pressed by his teammates after the goal. “Whether it’s a flyball or putting the ball in play, try to get at least one run-in and luckily it worked.”
A sensational catch by Dodgers center fielder Chris Taylor in the 10th kept the game tied. Taylor hit a homer on the seventh homer to make it 3-all.
Caratini hit Kimbrel (3-5) with loaded bases and an out and landed a hit in right field that scored automatic runner Andrew McCutchen and Hunter Renfroe, who had achieved a colorful single.
Renfroe crossed the plate just a few paces behind McCutchen, who had held up to see if the ball would be caught by right fielder Mookie Betts.
“He probably plays a little bit,” Renfroe said. “I read it well. I knew he wasn’t playing back, so he wouldn’t know.”
The Brewers won despite hitting just five hits from seven pitchers. The teams split the first two games of a four-game set.
The Dodgers have lost two out of three since a 12-game winning streak.
“Every time I go to the mound, I feel like I’m going to my job,” said Kimbrel, who wasted his fourth save. “I have the confidence. I throw my pitches but it just doesn’t work. It will change. It must.”
Justin Turner’s run-scoring single against Milwaukee Relief Brent Suter (4-4) gave the Dodgers a 4-3 lead at the top of 11th place.
In a back-and-forth match, the Brewers nearly won in the 10th. With two outs and two ons, McCutchen hit a liner deep into the left midfield gap that Taylor caught with a backhand flying grab. Helper Alex Vesia stood behind the hill and screamed.
“It’s just one of those situations where you know it’s game over if you don’t catch it,” Taylor said. “I just got it. I didn’t even know I caught it until I looked inside my glove.”
The Brewers jumped on Dodgers rookie starter Ryan Pepiot in the first. Christian Yelich pulled a leadoff walk and Willy Adames followed with his 23rd homer.
Milwaukee starter Brandon Woodruff threw four shutout innings before Joey Gallo tagged him for a leadoff homer in the fifth. It was the third homer for Gallo to replace the struggling Cody Bellinger in the lineup since he joined the Dodgers in a trade deal with the New York Yankees earlier this month.
Betts followed up with another solo homer two batters later to make it 2-all.
Yelich hit a solo homer in the fifth, ending his 0-for-26 slump. It was his first home run since July 2 in Pittsburgh and first at home since May 5.
“It felt good to have something positive for once,” Yelich said. “It’s been a while since I’ve done that.”
Taylor’s solo home run in Matt Bush’s seventh off actually pulled the Dodgers again.
Woodruff gave up five hits and two runs in five innings. He walked two and struck eight.
“They’re a really, really good baseball team,” Woodruff said. “That was a great win. We needed that. Hopefully we can carry that momentum into tomorrow and the rest of this series.”
Pepiot, making his sixth start of the season, gave up three hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings. He walked five and had six strikeouts.
TRAINING ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw didn’t travel to Milwaukee but dumped at his Texas home, manager Dave Roberts said. Kershaw has been out since earlier this month with back pain. … LHP Andrew Heaney, who sustained a bruise to his left arm after being hit by a comebacker that forced him to abandon his last start in Kansas City on Saturday, threw a bullpen session Tuesday and will make his next scheduled start Thursday in the series finale,” Roberts said.
Brewer: RHP Adrian Houser (right elbow) gave up five hits and three earned runs on a 28-pitch rehab excursion with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday. … C Omar Narváez (left quadriceps), who started a rehab stint with Nashville, went 2-for-4 as the DH. He is expected to be behind the plate for Nashville on Wednesday.
CLOSE CALLS
The Brewers recorded their seventh walkoff win of the season, going 7-5 in extra innings. Milwaukee moved to 23-15 in one-run games.
CENTRAL DOMINANCE
Despite the loss, the Dodgers dominated against NL Central with 7-0 against Chicago, 7-0 against Cincinnati, 2-1 against St. Louis, 1-1 against Milwaukee and 1-5 against last-place Pittsburgh.
NEXT
Dodgers: Tony Gonsolin (14-1, 2.24 ERA) is second in the major leagues by wins. He will make his first start against the Brewers.
Brewers: LHP Eric Lauer (8-4, 3.64) has won 6-0 with a 2.56 ERA in nine career starts against the Dodgers. Lauer will contest his 22nd start of the season.
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