Bellinger robs Yelich, homers off Hader, Dodgers top Brewers

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Cody Bellinger reached over the right field wall to rob Christian Yelich in the eighth inning of yet another home run, then hit a solo drive off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Sunday.

Bellinger connected for his 11th home run. On Friday night, the hard-throwing Hader (0-2) gave up a three-run homer to Enrique Hernandez in the eighth that led Los Angeles to a 5-3 win.

Joc Pederson hit two home runs, including a drive to begin the game, and tied a career high with four hits. He scored three times as the Dodgers won for the seventh time in eight games. They took three of four games at Miller Park.

Pinch hitter Eric Thames launched a three-run homer off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen (2-0) with two outs in the eighth that made it 5-all.

Yelich, who leads the majors with 13 home runs, led off the Milwaukee eighth with a drive that Bellinger caught above the wall.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw allowed two hits and two runs in six strong innings in his second start of the season. The lefty opened on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation.

Pederson homered to straightaway center on the second pitch of the game against Brandon Woodruff. Corey Seager followed with a double and scored on Bellinger’s single.

Seager’s RBI double in the second extended the lead to 3-0. The cushion grew to 4-0 on Bellinger’s run-scoring single.

The Dodgers tacked on another run on Pederson’s second homer of the game, a leadoff shot by Woodruff in the fourth.

After failing to get a hit off Kershaw through four innings, the Brewers broke through in the fifth. Orlando Arcia led off with a triple and Lorenzo Cain homered into the Milwaukee bullpen in left-center with one out to cut the lead to 5-2.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: C Russell Martin (lower back inflammation) will continue to work out with the team and isn’t expected to be sent on a rehab assignment, manager Dave Roberts said. Martin is likely to be activated from the injured list when the team returns to Los Angeles for a three-game series against Pittsburgh starting April 26.

Brewers: 2B Mike Moustakas suffered a fracture to the tip of his right ring finger after a ground ball struck his hand during Saturday night’s game. Moustakas said the injury makes it uncomfortable for him to hold a bat. “If it is going to be really sore, and we have to give him ten days, we will,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Right now, we are optimistic enough that we are willing to go day to day.”

UP NEXT

Dodgers: After being off on Monday, Los Angeles will send Kenta Maeda (3-1, 3.80 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday to begin a three-game series at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Maeda is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in two career starts versus the Cubs.

Brewers: Manager Craig Counsell hasn’t chosen a starter for Monday’s opener of a three-game series at St. Louis. Counsell is looking to fill a rotation spot created by the demotion of Corbin Burnes to Triple-A San Antonio.