MILWAUKEE (AP) — If Andrew McCutchen hits lefties as effectively as he has for much of his career, it could go a long way in helping the Milwaukee Brewers to a fifth straight playoff finish.
McCutchen hit two homers Thursday and Hunter Renfroe went 5-3 over left-hander Andrew Heaney in Milwaukee’s 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, leveling the four-game streak.
“We had a really good day from our guys who hit lefties really well and that’s Hunter and Cutch,” said Brewers manager Craig Counsell. “Big hits from them with men on the base. Cutch had a great day, a really impressive day.”
McCutchen came out Thursday with a .302 career batting with a .396 percentage on base and .940 OPS against lefties. This season was a bit different: .241 against lefties and .257 against righties.
It’s not just McCutchen, the Brewers are battling lefties overall. The team faced lefties Thursday as 25th of 30 major league teams in OPS, and its .218 batting average against lefties placed second-to-last ahead of only Miami.
“It was just good to have some good bats,” McCutchen said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s left or right. We will face both.”
McCutchen had three RBIs for his 19th career multi-homer game and first since June 1, 2021, when he also hit a pair for the Philadelphia Phillies in a 17-3 blowout by the Cincinnati Reds. His home runs on Thursday were a Solo shot in the first inning and a Two-run blast in the third.
Renfroe, going 3-for-3, added a two-run homer in the fifth to help the Brewers build a 5-0 lead.
“Things happen, and you just have to get in line,” Heaney said. “As with everything, it doesn’t really change how I approach anything. I just need to tune in and position myself a little bit better there.”
Heaney (1-1) struck out 10 but allowed five runs, five hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings.
Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes (9-5) kept the Dodgers scoreless for five innings before getting into trouble in the sixth. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner eventually hit out six, allowing three runs, six hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Devin Williams beat the team in the ninth for his eighth save on as many occasions.
The Dodgers got back into the game by hitting three runs in the sixth inning.
Brewers center fielder Tyrone Taylor, the reached over the fence to catch a drive from Tampa Bay’s David Peralta on August 9, he nearly robbed another player on a two-out shot by Gavin Lux. The ball was originally in Taylor’s glove but fell out and rebounded back into play after reaching his arm over the midfield wall.
“I thought it was going to be a hell of an effort,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “It’s probably one of the better non-catches you’ll ever see.”
Lux’s double three cut Milwaukee’s lead to 5-3 and eliminated Burnes. Brad Boxberger replaced Burnes and went with Joey Gallo to put runners in the corners before beating Chris Taylor to end the threat.
TRAINING ROOM
Roberts is hoping RHP Brusdar Graterol will be available for this weekend’s series with the Miami Marlins. Graterol has not played since July 10 with a shoulder injury but has been on rehab with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
BREWERS MOVE
The Brewers rehired RHP JC Mejía and selected him to Triple-A Nashville. Mejía has served his 80-game ban after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug stanozolol.
C Jakson Reetz was selected for assignment.
NEXT UP
Dodgers: Return home to face the Marlins. LHP Tyler Anderson (13-2, 2.81) plays for the Dodgers and LHP Jesús Luzardo (3-5, 3.72) starts for the Marlins Friday.
Brewers: Head to Chicago to begin a three-game streak with the Cubs. Scheduled starters Friday are LHP Aaron Ashby (2-10, 4.24) for the Brewers and RHP Keegan Thompson (9-5, 3.67) for the Cubs.
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