Dodgers Can't Overcome First Inning Meltdown In Loss To Brewers

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles Dodgers quest to assure themselves of their second consecutive World Series appearance essentially ended in the first inning Friday, when Hyun-Jin Ryu allowed four runs in a 7-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series.

Game 7 in the best-of-seven series will be played Saturday, also at Milwaukee's Miller Park.

Milwaukee's three consecutive two-out hits drove in four runs in the first. Jesus Aguilar doubled in Lorenzo Cain, who led off with an infield single, and Ryan Braun, a former Granada Hills High standout who walked with one out.

Chatsworth High School alumnus Mike Moustakas followed with a double that scored Aguilar. Erik Kratz singled in Moustakas.

The Brewers added a run in the second on back-to-back one-out doubles by Westlake High School graduate Christian Yelich and Braun.

The Dodgers cut the deficit to 5-2 in the fifth when David Freese's one-out double drove in Brian Dozier, who walked. Freese's double was the Dodgers final hit.

Milwaukee added one run in both the seventh and eighth.

Aguilar doubled leading off the seventh, moved to third on Orlando Arcia's one-out ground out and scored on a wild pitch by Kenta Maeda, the sixth of seven Dodger pitchers.

Cain walked to lead off the eighth. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts then replaced Maeda with Rich Hill, who walked Yelich, the first batter he faced, advancing Cain to second. Cain moved to third when Hernan Perez grounded into a force out and scored on Aguliar's single.

The Dodgers opened the scoring in the top of the first when leadoff hitter David Freese hit Wade Miley's 2-2 changeup for a home run.

The Dodgers were out-hit, 11-5, left six runners on base, were hitless in three at-bats with runners in scoring position and struck out nine times. The Brewers left 11 runners on base, were five-for-16 with runners in scoring position and struck out 13 times.

Ryu was charged with the loss, allowing five runs and seven hits in three innings, striking out three and walking two.

Corey Knebel, the second of four Brewer pitchers, was credited with the victory, pitching 1 2/3 hitless innings in relief of Miley, striking out two.

City News Service; Photo: MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 19: Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning in Game Six of the National League Championship Series at Miller Park on October 19, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)