MILWAUKEE — If such a thing as a textbook win exists, the Dodgers’ performance Sunday afternoon was it.
In the series rubber match against the previously red-hot Brewers, the Dodgers produced a decisive 5-1 victory at American Family Field, flashing all the factors that have underscored their own recent return to form.
It started on the mound, where in his first trip back to Milwaukee since last year’s complete game in the National League Championship Series, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was once again dominant, pitching seven strong innings of one-run ball in which “he was in complete control,” manager Dave Roberts said.
It was bolstered by a big inning at the plate, with the Dodgers breaking the tie score with a four-run outburst in the top of the fifth; keyed by a two-run triple from Kyle Tucker, then a two-run home run from Andy Pages.
It was locked up by a history-making bullpen, which extended its franchise-record scoreless streak to 38 innings.
It was even aided by good defense, highlighted by two double plays and an MLB-leading fifth outfield assist from Pages in center that helped flip the momentum.
At no point did the Dodgers seem stressed, not even after the Brewers opened the scoring with an RBI grounder in the bottom of the second.
At no point did they ever come close to looking lost, even while facing hard-throwing Milwaukee rookie Brandon Sproat for the first time.
A few weeks ago, that wasn’t often true of the two-time defending champions, who struggled to consistently put the pieces together during an extended 9-14 slump.
Since then, however, they have gone 9-2, finished this nine-game road trip with seven wins and three series victories, and made displays such as Sunday’s feel like the expectation once more.
“The pitching staff has done a great job all year, just giving us the opportunity to stay in games,” Tucker said. “And then our offense has come through when we needed it, too. It’s been nice.”
Winners of 11 of 13 games entering this weekend, the Brewers had been the hottest team in baseball.
But now, the Dodgers might have reclaimed that distinction.
After snapping their nine-game regular-season losing streak to Milwaukee on Saturday, they completed their first series win over the club since 2024 and their first at American Family Field since 2023.
They have also won three consecutive series for the first time since early April, maintaining first place in the NL West (by 1.5 games over the Padres).
Tucker has had underwhelming numbers for basically the entirety of the season.
More games like Sunday, however, could help him turn a corner.
The $240 million offseason signing went 2-for-5 with his two-run triple in the fifth and a two-out double in the first. It marked only his second game this season with multiple extra-base hits and the second straight day he tripled into the right field corner.
“I feel like my approach and swinging has gotten a lot better recently,” said Tucker, who is batting .251 on the season with a .767 OPS. “I’d like to stay inside of the ball a little bit better, but as long as I’m getting some walks and hits, and especially with guys on base and getting some RBIs, just take them.”
Indeed, since moving down the batting order a month ago, Tucker has been better, with a .233 average before the drop and a .268 average since. Power swings, however, have still been inconsistent. Whether Sunday helped spark something, time will only tell.
With Kiké Hernández set to rejoin the Dodgers on Monday, a roster move is coming.
Hyeseong Kim is making it more interesting than he would want.
For weeks, the expectation has been that Santiago Espinal will be cut to make room for Hernández, who would be an upgraded option in Espinal’s right-handed-hitting utility role.
Kim, however, has picked the wrong time to begin struggling mightily, striking out three times in an 0-for-4 performance Sunday to extend what is now a 6-for-40 slump.
“He’s back to chasing,” Roberts said. “He’s passive when he shouldn’t be, and then he’s getting into bad counts. I don’t know if it’s a mechanical thing. But he’s been grinding the last — quite honestly, the last month it’s been kind of tough for him.”
Kim provides value as a left-handed hitter, as well as with his speed and defense. But Roberts said he will nonetheless be in the conversation to get sent down to the minors when Hernández is activated Monday. The team’s other choice would be cutting veteran utility man Santiago Espinal, which seemed like the logical move prior to Kim’s struggles since he serves a repetitive right-handed utility role off the bench.
“Obviously, we’ve got to make a decision,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers return home Monday for a three-game series against the Rockies. Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 4.93 ERA) will be on the mound for the opener, which is an early 6:10 p.m. start for Memorial Day.
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