Morgan Slides Home, Brewers Beat Dodgers 3-2 In 10
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MILWAUKEE (AP) Nyjer Morgan scored on a fly ball by Ryan Braun in the 10th inning to give the Brewers a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, the second late-inning thriller in a row for Milwaukee.
With the bases loaded and one out, Braun lofted a shallow fly ball to center field. Morgan took off for home despite a stop sign from third base coach Ed Sedar and was called safe on a close play at the plate -- although replays showed that he may have been tagged out before reaching the plate. It didn't matter to Morgan, who was mobbed by his teammates after sliding home.
Reliever Matt Guerrier (0-1) took the loss for the Dodgers, who have lost the first two games of the series.
Kameron Loe (1-0) earned the win.
Aramis Ramirez hit his first home run of the season for the Brewers, shaking off what has been a sluggish start to the season with his new team.
Guerrier walked Jonathan Lucroy to lead off the bottom of the 10th, and Lucroy was lifted for Morgan as a pinch runner. Cesar Izturis then popped out on a bunt attempt, but Morgan stole second with Rickie Weeks at the plate -- then went to third on a bad throw by catcher A.J. Ellis.
The Dodgers put Weeks on first with an intentional walk, bringing Kottaras to the plate. The Dodgers made a defensive shift, with five infielders and two outfielders, and Weeks stole second. Guerrier then walked Kottaras to load the bases for Braun with one out.
The Brewers also won Tuesday night's series opener in thrilling fashion, on a two-run double in the ninth by Kottaras.
Zack Greinke gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts.
Greinke came into Wednesday's game with a 12-0 record and 2.91 ERA in 16 starts as a Brewer at Miller Park. His 12-game home winning streak is the longest in franchise history.
Greinke was coming off a rough road outing against the Cubs last Thursday, where he gave up eight runs in only 3 2-3 innings and took the loss.
Dodgers starter Chris Capuano went six innings, giving up two runs in six innings against his former team. Capuano had two separate stints with the Brewers, from 2004-07 and in 2010, and was an All-Star in 2006.
The Dodgers got to Greinke in the first inning when Mark Ellis smacked a one-out double and Matt Kemp followed with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead.
Milwaukee came back to tie it in the second. After Aramis Ramirez was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, Corey Hart doubled and Mat Gamel drove him in.
The Dodgers retook the lead in the fifth with a leadoff double by Jerry Hairston Jr., a single by Tony Gwynn Jr. and a grounder by A.J. Ellis for a forceout at second base that allowed the run to score for a 2-1 lead.
Milwaukee then had a chance for a big inning in the fifth when Greinke hit a one-out double and Capuano walked Rickie Weeks. But Carlos Gomez flew out and Braun hit a ground ball for an out at second to end the inning.
Ramirez then homered to lead off the sixth, hammering the first pitch he saw from Capuano deep to left center field to tie the game at 2. It was his 313th career homer as a third baseman, giving him sole possession of eighth place on the all-time list of homers at the position.
Notes: Brewers SS Alex Gonzalez returned to the lineup after missing three games for the birth of his son on Sunday. ... Andre Ethier lined into a double play in the fourth, when Carlos Gomez threw behind Kemp to double him up at first base. ... Milwaukee LHP Randy Wolf (0-1, 10.61) faces RHP Aaron Harang (0-1, 5.91) in the series finale Thursday afternoon.
