Recap: Freddie Freeman & Gavin Lux Home Runs Help Dodgers Defeat Brewers

The Los Angeles Dodgers bounced back from a shutout loss to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-0, winning their fifth consecutive meeting in head-to-head matchups. Freddie Freeman and Wisconsin native Gavin Lux led the offense with a home run each.

Freeman’s long ball provided the Dodgers with a lead in the first inning, and they remained ahead 1-0 until Will Smith’s sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. Lux then provided more separation by going to the opposite field for a two-run homer in the sixth.

The home run was Lux’s sixth of the season but first off a left-hander. The Dodgers adding onto their lead late helped remove some frustration that came from squandering opportunities against Freddy Peralta.

He issued four walks but only allowed one run over four innings. Cody Bellinger struck out swinging to leave the bases loaded in the fourth. Peralta’s 92 pitches were his most since returning from a strained right lat.

Although the Dodgers offense failed to capitalize on Peralta’s struggles, Julio Urías did his part to keep the Brewers at bay.

Milwaukee had the first two batters reach in the first and third innings, but were turned away both times. Urías didn’t retire the side in order until the fifth inning, which was his last of the night.

The victory was Urías’ 10th in a row, and the Dodgers became the first team in the Majors to 80 wins this season.

Urías makes MLB history

By not allowing a run, Urías lowered his career ERA in the second half to 1.87. It’s the lowest second-half ERA in MLB history by any pitcher with at least 180 innings logged after the All-Star break.

Chris Martin’s four strikeouts in one inning

Chris Martin was the first Dodgers relief pitcher to enter the game, and it was a memorable appearance as he collected four strikeouts in the sixth inning.

Martin’s first strikeout was a passed ball that Andrew McCutchen managed to reach on to lead off the inning. Martin then struck out pinch-hitter Kolten Wong, Hunter Renfroe and Rowdy Tellez.

The last Dodgers pitcher with four strikeouts in one inning was Clayton Kershaw on June 11, 2021. Before him, Kenley Jansen and Sergio Santos accomplished the feat on May 15 and 16, 2015.

Dodgers lose Buehler

Prior to the game, the Dodgers announced Walker Buehler was scheduled for season-ending elbow surgery on Tuesday, Aug. 23. The team is not yet sure if the operation will be Tommy John surgery.

Buehler had been on the 60-day injured list due to a right flexor tendon strain, during which time he underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow in an unrelated procedure.