Yelich homers again in Brewers’ loss to Dodgers

MILWAUKEE — Enrique Hernandez lined a three-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Milwaukee Brewers 5-3 on Friday night for their sixth consecutive win.

Hernandez’s home run, his fifth of the season, came on an 0-2 pitch from Brewers closer Josh Hader (0-1), who surrendered two walks in the inning.

Five Dodgers relievers combined to limit Milwaukee to one run over the final 4 1/3 innings. Pedro Baez (1-1) got the win and Kenley Jensen got the last three outs for his seventh save.

The Brewers immediately jumped on Dodgers starter Ross Stripling. Lorenzo Cain led off the first with a single for his 1,000th career hit. Christian Yelich then lofted a 408-foot homer into the second deck in right, his major league-leading 11th of the season, to stake Milwaukee to a 2-0 lead.

The Dodgers cut the lead to 2-1 in the second on Alex Verdugo’s run-scoring double off Jhoulys Chacin. Cody Bellinger’s sacrifice fly in the third tied the score.

After Hernandez’s homer put Los Angeles ahead, Eric Thames hit a solo shot off Joe Kelly in the bottom of the eighth to pull the Brewers to 5-3.

Chacin gave up five hits and two runs in five innings, while Stripling lasted 4 2/3 innings and surrendered four hits and two runs.

BURNES SENT TO MINORS

Corbin Burnes, a key member Milwaukee’s vaunted bullpen last season, was optioned to Triple-A San Antonio. Burnes was 7-0 with a 2.61 in 30 appearances in 2018 but has struggled since being inserted into the starting rotation this season, allowing an MLB-leading 11 home runs. The Brewers recalled LHP Donnie Hart, who allowed just one run in six innings for San Antonio.

“I’ll make two or three starts and just try to get back on track,” Burnes said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Rich Hill (left knee MCL strain) will make a rehab start on Monday at either Triple-A Oklahoma City or Double-A Tulsa. “It’s contingent on weather,” manager Dave Roberts said. … C Russell Martin (lower back inflammation) could be activated from the injured list when the team returns to Los Angeles for a three-game series against Pittsburgh starting April 26.

Brewers: A pitch by Dylan Floro hit Cain in the upper left arm, but he remained in the game. … RHP Jake Petricka was optioned to Triple-A San Antonio. … RHP Alex Wilson was reinstated from the paternity list.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-0, 3.07 ERA) will be activated from the 10-day injured list (strained left groin) and start on Saturday. Ryu made his only career appearance against the Brewers on May 22, 2013, in Milwaukee. He allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings to get the win.

Brewers: Counsell hasn’t named a starter for Saturday’s matchup to fill a hole in the rotation created when Freddy Peralta was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder issue. Chase Anderson is among the options, Counsell said.