Kiké Hernandez blasts Dodgers past Brewers in the opener

The Dodgers are undefeated in the Manny Machado era.

Kiké Hernandez opened the Dodgers second half with a bang Friday, slugging a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to break open an otherwise close game. The center fielder’s 17th homer of the year put the exclamation point on a 6-4 win over the Brewers.

Machado had a successful debut, reaching base in four of his five plate appearances with two singles and two walks. The Dodgers new shortstop had a chance to reach base for a fifth time in the ninth, but would fly out to right.

In a game that proved difficult to get a run home early on, Los Angeles came up with two in the seventh inning. It took five straight hits for the Dodgers in the top of the seventh to score those two runs.

Following a leadoff single from pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal, Chase Utley doubled up the gap in right-center to bring Grandal chugging around third base. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, Grandal would be cut down at home.

But Chris Taylor singled in Utley and would come around two batters later on a Max Muncy double.

Rich Hill worked around four walks and five hits to allow just a run over six innings of work. At one point between the first and fourth, the lefty had retired 11 of 12 with six of his nine strikeouts on the night.

Milwaukee helped Hill in the fifth inning with a costly baserunning gaffe that ultimately kept them from scoring more runs in the frame.

Down 1-0, the Brewers would’ve loaded the bases with no out after starter Wade Miley pulled back from a bunt and singled through the middle of the diamond. But Keon Broxton came flying around second, failing to recognize that catcher Manny Pina had been held at third.

Two batters later, Christian Yelich lined a double down the right field line to tie the game at 1-1, but a quick relay from Matt Kemp and Logan Forsythe cut down Miley at the plate to end the inning.

The Brewers made it close in the eighth when first baseman Jesús Aguilar hit a towering solo shot to left, bringing the home team within a run at the time. Then again in the ninth, when Yelich tripled in two to bring Aguilar to the plate as the tying run.

But Kenley Jansen was able to shut the door, striking out the National League leader in homers to seal the victory.

Up Next

The Dodgers and Brewers continue their weekend series with Clayton Kershaw (3-4, 2.74) up against Chase Anderson (6-7, 3.78).

Friday particulars

Home runs: Jesús Aguilar (25), Kiké Hernandez (17)

WP - Rich Hill (3-4): 6 IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 4 walks, 9 strikeouts

LP - Taylor Williams (0-3): 1 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk

SV- Kenley Jansen (28): 1 IP, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts