Dodgers Finish Half on Right Note

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4, taking the series 2-1. The Dodgers had the early advantage, scoring twice in the first inning. Clayton Kershaw was solid, giving up only one run on two hits and five walks over six-plus innings of work. Ramon Troncoso notched the save with a scoreless ninth. Brad Ausmus connected for his first homer of the season, and Orlando Hudson had two home runs, one from each side of the plate. James Loney drove in two runs, and Manny Ramirez doubled twice and scored twice. Mike Cameron and Bill Hall both doubled, knocked in a run and scored a run for the Brewers.

The victory ended the Dodgers' nine-game road trip, in which they went 6-3. It was also the last game before the All Star Break, which signals the end of the first half of the season.

Dodgers Overpower Brewers for Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 12-8 in 10 innings, their first victory of the season against the Brew Crew. The Dodgers had an early lead after Andre Ethier homered in the first, but Chad Billingsley did not have his A-game, yielding two runs in the first before recording three outs. After trading runs in the fourth innings, Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin both slammed jacks to give the Dodgers a two-run cushion. Billingsley once again surrendered two more runs to tie the game. Mat Gamel then homered in the eighth to give Milwaukee a one-run lead. However, the Dodgers got to closer Trevor Hoffman, with Mark Loretta singling home the tying run in the ninth. In the 10th, LA broke the game open, scoring two runs before loading the bases, where Matt Kemp delivered a grand-slam home run to put the game out of reach for Milwaukee. Despite allowing two runs in the bottom of the inning, Jonathan Broxton held on to seal the victory. Kemp finished with a double and single in addition to the grand-slam, and Martin had three hits and scored three runs. James Loney homered, and Casey Blake hit an RBI-triple in the 10th that gave the Dodgers the lead. Gamel finished the game with three RBI's for the Brewers, and J.J. Hardy smashed a homer and drove in three runs. Prince Fielder scored twice, and Mike Cameron had three hits.