Roberto Hernandez made his Dodgers debut in the opening game of a three game series with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers and Brewers play six of their next ten games against each other. The Dodgers entered Friday's game game 11-13 against the NL Central, the division in which the Brewers sit atop of. Hernandez made the start in place of the injured Josh Beckett, who was placed back on the Disabled List with a left hip impingement -- the same injury that placed him there the first time this season. Hernandez came over from the last place NL East Philadelphia Phillies with a 6-8 record.
Hernandez made his way through six innings at Miller Park, surrendering two runs on three hits. Hernandez struck out five batters and did not surrender a walk. The newly acquired right-hander settled in after giving up two runs in the first inning, retiring seventeen straight batters -- including striking out the side in the fifth inning. Hernandez received a no decision in his first bid, throwing 65 pitches. The Brewers blew the game open with a combined seven runs over the seventh and eighth innings. Brandon League was given the loss after giving up three runs in just 2/3 of an inning pitched.
Adrian Gonzalez had himself a game and was the bright spot the Dodgers offense, going 3-for-3 with a solo home run that cut the lead in half in the sixth inning. After a double and a walk, Gonzalez crushed his 16th home run of the year into right field. Gonzalez lined his third hit of the game for an RBI single to tie the game at two in the seventh inning. Andre Ethier gave the boys in blue the lead with an RBI infield single to close out the seventh inning. The Dodgers held onto the lead for less than a half inning, finishing the game 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and leaving eight men on base. Hanley Ramirez was scratched from the lineup as a precaution with right side tightness and will be listed as day-to-day. Miguel Rojas took his spot at shortstop and in the lineup, finishing 0-for-2. Dee Gordon, Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford and Yasiel Puig combined to go a dismal 3-for-17. Puig did have another outfield assist, making it consecutive games throwing a runner out at third base from center field.
The Dodgers will look to regroup before sending out former Brewer and now Dodger ace Zack Greinke tomorrow evening. Greinke will look to get back on track himself and receive some offensive support, something that hasn’t been there in his last three consecutive losses. Greinke hadn’t lost three games in a row since 2010 before the tough stretch this year. Los Angeles holds a 3 ½ game lead over the San Francisco Giants, who lost to the Kansas City Royals.