Craig Counsell won in his managerial debut and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied off Dodgers ace, Clayton Kershaw, in the bottom of the 8th inning to defeat the boys in blue 4-3.
Monday marked the managerial debut of Counsell who took over as leader of the Brewers after Ron Roenicke was fired on Sunday. Unfortunately for Counsell, his reward for taking over the team was facing the league's reigning MVP and Cy Young winner.
Kershaw looked like his old dominant self for seven innings, but faded in the bottom half of the eighth as he allowed three runs on five hits with eight strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings and fell short of his 100th career win.
Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly was ejected in the third inning for arguing with first base umpire Paul Emmel. Mattingly wedged his way between Kershaw and Emmel who were arguing initially.
"I wasn't going to let him take a step towards Clayton," said Mattingly of his ejection. "I had to make sure Clayton stays in the game."
Joc Pederson hit his second leadoff home run of the season and his seventh long ball on the year. Pederson has been on a power tear of late, blasting five homers in his last six games.
Sunday's hero, Yasmani Grandal, was locked in offensively as the switch-hitting catcher went 3-for-4 with a double, two singles and an RBI.
"It would have been great to get the first one out of the way," said a disappointed Grandal. "Especially on the road, and being up 3 to nothing."
However, the 3-0 lead would not be enough for Los Angeles. The Brewers would comeback with a run in the sixth and three in the eighth to defeat the Dodgers and snap their four-game winning streak.
Hector Gomez went 2-for-3 with a triple and a homer against Kershaw and scored two of the four Brewers runs.
"Gomez hit a good pitch," said an angry Kershaw after the game. "He was ready to ambush. I overthrew a slider and he hit it hard."
With the game tied at three apiece and Carlos Gomez on third, Ryan Braun hit a broken-bat, infield single down the line that ended up being the game-winning RBI. Braun just barely beat the throw at first and the safe call was upheld after Dodgers interim manager, Tim Wallach challenged the play.
Milwaukee's bullpen held the Dodgers scoreless after starter Kyle Lohse gave up the initial three runs. Michael Blazek (2-0) picked up the victory pitching two scoreless innings in relief as the Brewers have won four out of their last five games after their worst start in franchise history.
"They're bullpen did a good job from keeping us from scoring," said Mattingly. "We weren't able to add on, and they put some good at-bats on against Clayton."
Chris Hatcher (0-3) blew the lead and the game for the Dodgers. Milwaukee's Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save of the season.
Game Notes:
Juan Uribe extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Before the game, Adrian Gonzalez was officially named NL Player of the Month and Alex Guerrero was named the NL Rookie of the Month for April.
