Brewers blank Dodgers and avoid Sweep

Zach Davies #27 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch during the fourth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Miller Park on June 4, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

(June 4, 2017 - Source: Stacy Revere/Getty Images North America)

The Milwaukee Brewers (30-27) blank the Los Angeles Dodgers (35-23) 3-0 and avoid a series sweep.

The Brewers took an early lead in the first inning with LF Eric Thames’ 15th home run of the season. Los Angeles’ SP Kenta Maeda needed 30 pitches to end the inning.

Milwaukee doubled the lead in the second. C Manny Pina drew a leadoff walk and SS Orlando Arcia was hit by a pitch with one out. Another out later, 2B Eric Sogard singled and drove in Manny Pina to put the Brewers up 2-0.

Kenta Maeda (4-3) had a pitch count of 53 at the end of the inning. He was eventually relieved after four innings and 92 pitches, surrendering 2 hits, 3 walks and 2 earned runs while fanning 7. He now has a 5.16 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP on the year.

Milwaukee’s SP Zach Davies (6-3) pitched six shutout innings but allowed the first two batters on base when he returned in the seventh. The relief pitchers Oliver Drake and Jacob Barnes, however, made sure that the Dodgers remained scoreless after seven. Zach Davies gave up 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 6. His ERA and WHIP improved to 4.69 and 1.55, respectively.

The Brewers got an insurance run in the eighth when RF Domingo Santana hit his 10th homer of the season.

CL Corey Knebel recorded three strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his fifth save of the year. He posts a 1.29 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in 2017.

Eric Thames went 1-for-3 with a solo home run. He is batting .273 and has 43 runs, 15 HR and 29 RBI this year.

The Milwaukee Brewers continue their homestand with a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants (23-35) from Monday to Thursday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers return home to host a three-game series against the Washington Nationals (34-20) from Monday through Wednesday.