MILWAUKEE

Cain and a walk by outfielder Ryan Braun, first baseman Jesus Aguilar smacked a two-run double down the first-base line. Up next third baseman Mike Moustakas deposited an RBI double in the same area. An RBI single by catcher Erik Kratz made it a four-run inning.

Ryu made 15 starts during the regular season. He allowed more than three runs only once – and four of those were unearned. The trouble would grow bigger in the second, as Ryu continued to feed the Brewers offspeed pitches at the belt.

Until Friday, Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich had played five games against the Dodgers without recording an extra-base hit. The spell ended when Ryu left a changeup over the middle. Yelich whacked a double. He scored moments later when Braun hit a double of his own.

The wretched outing from Ryu created a dilemma for Roberts. He needed to keep the score close, so the Brewers would be compelled to use their best relievers, like Hader and Corey Knebel. But the Dodgers did not want to torch their own bullpen in defense of Ryu, which might leave them vulnerable in Game 7.

Which was why Hill, the Game 4 starter, trotted from the dugout to the bullpen after the second inning ended with the Dodgers down four. Ryu returned for the third inning. He navigated through three batters without surrendering a rocket. Despite this relative achievement, he did not come back for the fourth.

Roberts turned to Julio Urias, who was pitching in his sixth big-league game in 2018. Urias allowed a homer in Game 1, then collected three outs and picked up the victory in the 13th inning of Game 4. Urias kept the Brewers quiet in the fourth, then gave way to Alex Wood.

The offense accomplished one prong of their miniaturized goals in the top of the fifth – they got Miley out of the game and compelled Brewers manager Craig Counsell to use Knebel. Freese smashed an RBI double off Miley, who walked Max Muncy in the next at-bat. Knebel put out the fire by inducing a flyout from Justin Turner before striking out Manny Machado.