Dodgers undaunted by another lefty, take series in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE-- The Dodgers exorcised some devils throughout their see to Milwaukee.

Those in residence at the hotel where they stayed-- known throughout MLB and the NBA for its spiritual qualities-- will still exist to greet the next visitors to its (apparently) haunted halls. The Dodgers might no longer fright at the sight of left-handed pitching.

They installed 7 runs versus left-hander Wade Miley Wednesday afternoon, handing the Brewers a 8-1 loss and returning home from the road with series wins in San Diego and Milwaukee.

Entering into Tuesday's game, the Dodgers were amongst the worst striking teams against left-handed pitching with a. 193 average and were about to deal with back-to-back lefties in Milwaukee with a 3rd possible Friday when the Padres come to Dodger Stadium.

However they beat Eric Lauer and Miley on successive days at American Family Field, setting up 11 operate on 10 hits (consisting of five crowning achievement) in 8 2/3 innings against the 2 southpaws.

"So ideally that's an action in the ideal instructions. We've got another one on Friday right with (Padres left-hander Blake) Snell.

Wednesday's damage versus Miley consisted of back-to-back home runs by Freeman and Will Smith in the fourth inning and a two-run home run by Miguel Vargas as the Dodgers drove Miley from the video game with a four-run sixth inning.

For Vargas, the homer was his ninth and fourth extra-base hit in his previous 12 video games. In his very first 24 games this season, he had simply 5 extra-base hits, no home runs.

All of his swings I think are more aggressive," Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated of the change in Vargas over the past two weeks. Whether it was the thumb recurring (after being struck by a pitch) is past or something, I think I just see more of an aggressive swing in there."

Freeman made it a three-RBI day with a two-out, two-run single off Miley. That salvaged a road trip that started with simply three hits in 21 at-bats before Wednesday.

" I think the recently it didn't matter who was on the mound, they were gon na have success," Freeman lamented. "But you simply keep working in the cage, keep grinding and undoubtedly I felt a little much better at the plate today."

The Dodgers' own left-hander provided them just what they needed after using seven relievers in Tuesday's game when starter Noah Syndergaard lasted only one inning due to a finger injury.

Clayton Kershaw travelled through seven innings against the Brewers permitting five hits and starting out eight to move into sole belongings of 21st put on the all-time strikeout list. Previous colleague Zack Greinke is successive for Kershaw (2,863 strikeouts), ranking 20th on the list (with 2,909).

" I think there's not many more words you can truly say about a first ballot Hall of Famer," Freeman stated of Kershaw. "When you need someone like that to step up, and he does it each and every single time, it's just a treat to watch. Being a fan of baseball, to get to watch that every 5 days, it's unique. When you require him most, like after yesterday's bullpen day, he stepped up again."

Kershaw entrusted a seven-run lead after seven innings, leaving little to do for Wander Suero (the just reliever who didn't pitch Tuesday).

" I think simply overall better fastball command, that's type of the way it started for me. I was able to put the ball on both sides of the plate which is absolutely practical," Kershaw said. "Obviously the way Noah needed to come out of the video game yesterday so the bullpen had to cover 8, it was essential to get deep in the game.

I do believe that clearly there's added focus to get much deeper in video games when your bullpen is a little overworked. Yeah, it was important for me to get through seven today and I'm happy I did."

The start in Milwaukee was common of Kershaw in another way - - he put a crappy performance behind him rapidly. He didn't survive five innings versus the Padres last week, enabling eight hits and walking 5.

" No modifications, I just pitched much better," he said of that.

The Dodgers return house to deal with the Padres again having won five of their previous 6 series and 10 of their previous 12 games general to reach a season-high eight games over.500 (23-15).

" I think the last couple of weeks is more of what we thought was gon na occur," Freeman said. "The very first couple of weeks - - just one excellent day hitting, one bad day striking, just kind of attempting to put everything together. We've been putting it together the last number of weeks."