Grandal’s 3 RBI leads Brewers past Dodgers in series opener

LOS ANGELES — Yasmani Grandal had three hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in three runs in his first game back at Dodger Stadium as he led the Milwaukee Brewers to a 8-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.

The former Dodgers catcher received his National League championship ring in the clubhouse before the game and got some nice applause from the 43,643 fans on hand before his first at-bat. Those same fans weren’t happy with him in the fifth after he put a changeup from Julio Urias (0-1) over the wall in left field to put Milwaukee on top for good.

There were five home runs in the game, which was a rematch of last year’s NL Championship Series, and all but one produced a lead change.

Hernan Perez also homered for the Brewers, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Matt Albers (1-0), the second of six Milwaukee pitchers, got the win. Corbin Burnes started and allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings.

The Dodgers clubbed three homers, but have dropped five straight. Cody Bellinger had a two-run shot to right in the third for his NL-leading eighth, and Corey Seager and Joc Pederson also went deep.

Urias went five innings and gave up six runs, including five earned, and six hits.

Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the first on RBI singles by Ryan Braun and Grandal. Los Angeles got on the board in the bottom half of the inning on a solo blast by Seager to left-center.

The teams then traded two-run homers for 2½ innings. The Dodgers went up on Bellinger’s blast in the third before Milwaukee answered in the fourth when Perez connected on a curveball by Urias to left-center to go back on top 4-3. The Dodgers responded with Pederson’s shot over the wall in right-center that gave them their last lead at 5-4.

After Grandal’s homer in the fifth, Jose Aguilar provided a pair of insurance runs. He had an RBI double in the seventh and a sacrifice fly in the ninth which plated Christian Yelich.

Los Angeles had the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth when Josh Hader struck out Justin Turner.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: 3B Travis Shaw (right hand) took batting practice, but was not in the starting lineup. Shaw was hit by a pitch during the second inning of Wednesday’s game against the Angels and left the game.

Dodgers: Pitcher Rich Hill threw a 46-pitch, three-inning simulated game and then had another 15 pitches in the bullpen. Manager Dave Roberts said the left-hander will throw a bullpen session on Sunday and a likely rehab start late next week.

Umpires: Home-plate umpire Brian Knight is in concussion protocol after a foul ball by Pederson knocked his mask off during the first inning. Pat Hoberg, who was at second base to start the game, called balls and strikes after Knight left the game.

UP NEXT

Milwaukee Zach Davies (1-0, 1.69 ERA) is 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two career starts at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles’ starter is to be determined. Hyun-Jin Ryu is on the injured list after suffering a groin strain during last Monday’s start at St. Louis.