Brewers pull ahead, survive nervy ninth
LOS ANGELES— Jhoulys Chacin combined with four relievers on a five-hitter, Orlando Arcia hit a two-run homer and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 on Monday to take a 2-1 lead in the NL Championship Series.
Los Angeles loaded the bases against Jeremy Jeffress in the ninth inning, but the struggling closer shut the door. He struck out Yasmani Grandal and pinch-hitter Brian Dozier to complete Milwaukee’s third shutout in six playoff games.
Game 4 in the best-of-seven series goes Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, with left-hander Rich Hill pitching for Los Angeles. The Brewers had yet to announce a starter.
Ryan Braun had an early RBI double off rookie Walker Bueh- ler, who struck out eight in seven innings. Travis Shaw tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the sixth. Arcia connected for his third post-season homer in the seventh. Chacin scattered three hits over 5 1⁄3 innings.
Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson returned to the lineup after a roster addition to his family, following the birth of his first child. Pederson and wife Kelsey welcomed a girl named Poppy on Sunday night. The team said she weighs seven pounds and 11 ounces. The 26-year-old slugger changed his walk-up music to “Big Poppa” by The Notorious B.I.G. in honour of his daughter. Pederson was batting leadoff for the Dodgers against the Brewers.
Pederson posted a photo of his baby yawning and wearing a tag reading “Hello my name is Poppy” on his Instagram account. The couple wed in January.
In other roster moves for Game 3, the Dodgers rested outfielder Chris Taylor in favour of Pederson, and inserted Grandal, who had two errors and two passed balls in a Game1 loss. Austin Barnes replaced Grandal behind the plate for Game 2 in Milwaukee. Before the game, MLB announced the Brewers will close out their spring exhibition schedule against the Blue Jays at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium on March 25 and 26.