Zack Greinke, home runs lead Dodgers over Brewers

LOS ANGELES -- Zack Greinke kept rolling, continuing his early season hot streak, and held the Brewers at bay long enough for the Dodgers offense to catch up, and catch up it did in an 8-2 win over the Brewers on Tuesday night at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

One night after Clayton Kershaw recorded one out in the eighth inning for the longest outing by a Dodgers starter this season, Greinke did him one better by lasting until two outs in the eighth inning.

Greinke allowed only two singles and two walks, and the only blemish came in the second inning when Joc Pederson took an odd route to a drive by Jean Segura, only to drop it for a two-base error, giving the Brewers a 1-0 lead.

That looked like it would hold up into the sixth, when the Dodgers put two runners on for Justin Turner, who took Matt Garza out to center field for a 3-1 Dodgers lead.

It was the fourth home run of the season for Turner, all of which have come in his last six games, including four starts. During that span, Turner is 7-for-17 (.412) with two walks and a double in addition to the home runs, plus nine RBI.

The hot corner has been just that for the Dodgers this season, with Alex Guerrero and Turner taking turns breathing fire into the position. Dodgers third basemen this season have combined to hit .359/.382/.631 with seven home runs and 20 RBI. Both Turner (12-for-25) and Guerrero (8-for-16) each have three homers at the position.

Turner must have opened the floodgates, because the Dodgers offense kept coming in the seventh. Greinke even got into the act with a double off the wall, complete with a nice bat flip.

Two batters later, Jimmy Rollins got a much-needed positive offensive outcome, a two-run shot that for all intents and purposes put the game away. Rollins was 0-for-3 on the night before his two-run home run, also 0 for his last 13 and in a 1-for-20 slump that saw his season line plummet to a Seager-panic-button-inducing .162/.250/.283.

After Howie Kendrick walk, Adrian Gonzalez came to the plate with a rare opportunity to actually be pitched to in this series. In his first seven plate appearances in the series, Gonzalez struck out once but was walked five times and was hit by a pitch.

Neal Cotts pitched to Gonzalez, and he made them pay, hitting a ball nearly off the video board in center field for his ninth home run of the season, tied for the National League lead, and his first this season against a left-handed pitcher.

Roster moves

Before the game, the Dodgers on Tuesday optioned newcomer Andy Wilkins to Triple-A Oklahoma City. In addition, Scott Baker cleared waivers and was sent outright to Oklahoma City, and accepted the assignment.

Up next

Joe Wieland makes his Dodgers debut on Wednesday evening, a 5:10 p.m. PT start, against Wily Peralta for Milwaukee.

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: Justin Turner (4), Jimmy Rollins (3), Adrian Gonzalez (9)

WP - Zack Greinke (5-0): 7⅔ IP, 2 hits, 1 unearned run, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

LP - Matt Garza (2-4): 6 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts