Tarik Skubal out-dueled, Dodgers fall to Brewers 6-2

The Dodgers struggled to get anything going offensively on Sunday, as they only mustered one run while falling to the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2.

After a 15-pitch first inning where he abandoned two baserunners, Tarik Skubal was the victim of the Brewers’ tenacity with two outs. Jonathan Ornelas lined a single to left before Skubal walked William Contreras to load the bases. Luis Lara hit a soft ground ball to shortstop, but Tommy Edman misplayed the feed from Mookie Betts as Milwaukee struck first again. It took Skubal 33 pitches and seven hitters faced to get out of the inning.

All the Dodgers could do offensively against Logan Henderson over their first two innings were leadoff base hits from Shohei Ohtani and Betts. Both men couldn’t advance further on the base paths as Henderson needed just 28 pitches over his first two innings of work.

The Dodgers had gone hitless over their next eight trips to the plate after the Betts single, but Max Muncy gave the Dodgers their first run on the season against Henderson with a two-out, game tying solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Skubal was one out away from setting down eight hitters in a row since the third inning, but Jackson Chourio ignited another two-out rally with a double to right center field. Jake Bauers’ third hit against Skubal plated Chourio to give Milwaukee the lead again before Andrew Vaughn made it three straight two-out hits. After combining for just 19 pitches between the third and fourth innings, Skubal needed 28 pitches to complete the fifth.

Skubal ended his afternoon on a high note, as he struck out the side in order to give him seven and tossed a total of 109 pitches, surpassing his previous career-high set back in 2022. One one earned run was charged to Skubal— the least he’s allowed as a Dodger— and over his first three starts with his new team, the left-hander is 0-2 with a 3.18 ERA, striking 19 while walking six over 17 innings.

The Dodgers couldn’t give Skubal any further support, as they went 0-7 against Henderson following the Muncy home run. Betts managed to get on base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, ultimately to no avail as Henderson finished a career-high seven innings over just 93 pitches.

The two-out magic carried over against the Dodger bullpen, as Jackson Chourio knocked Edgardo Henriquez with a single in the seventh inning. Bauers brought him home again with an RBI double against Alex Vesia., giving him four hits on the game. Vaughn made it three-straight two-out hits and drove home Bauers to make it a 4-1 Brewers lead for the second consecutive game.

Kyle Hurt made his first appearance since August 9, tossing 1 1/3 innings while striking out the side in order in the eighth.

The Dodgers started to put something together against Chad Patrick in the bottom of the eighth, as Teoscar Hernández and pinch-hitter Hunter Feduccia roped a pair of one-out singles. Pat Murphy put in Aaron Ashby to face Shohei Ohtani, and the move paid off with a ground ball double play to escape the jam.

Jack Dreyer came in relief of Hurt in the top of the ninth, and after walking Bauers, he got a ground ball from David Hamilton that skipped under the glove of Edman and allowing Milwaukee to add another two runs. The Dodgers responded with a home run from Andy Pages in the bottom of the ninth inning against D.L. Hall, but that’s all they could reap against the Brewers bullpen.

With the Dodgers dropping three of four against Milwaukee, they are now three games back for the best record in the National League. Over the past two regular seasons, the Dodgers now have a combined 3-10 record against Milwaukee, including a 1-6 record at home.

Game particulars

• Home runs— Max Muncy (24), Andy Pages (21)
• WP— Logan Henderson (7-2): 7 IP, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts
• LP— Tarik Skubal (7-7): 6 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs (1 earned run), 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

Up next

The Dodgers head out to Denver as they begin a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Monday (5:40 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Both teams have yet to announce Monday’s starters.