Steve Webb
Game 121, 8/14/2024: Dodgers 4, Brewers 5
MILWAUKEE, WI — The Dodgers’ winning streak was snapped at five with a tough 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, as Walker Buehler’s sub-par start and three critical errors proved too costly to overcome. Despite taking an early lead, the Dodgers couldn’t hold on, falling in a game where mistakes made all the difference.
Buehler’s outing was shaky from the start. The right-hander lasted only 3.1 innings, allowing four hits and issuing four walks. Though he only surrendered one earned run, his inability to find the strike zone consistently left him in trouble throughout his brief appearance. Buehler’s struggles set the tone for a game where the Dodgers’ defense faltered at crucial moments.
The defensive woes began early and never let up. Nick Ahmed, Kiké Hernández, and Mookie Betts each committed a fielding error, contributing directly to Milwaukee’s runs. Ahmed’s miscue in the second inning allowed the Brewers to close the gap to 3-2, and the momentum shifted in Milwaukee’s favor. Hernández’s error in the fourth proved even more costly, as it directly led to the Brewers taking the lead. Betts’ blunder in the seventh inning was the final blow, allowing the Brewers to score what would eventually become the game-winning run.
The Dodgers’ offense showed flashes of life but couldn’t capitalize on key opportunities. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman combined for five of the team’s nine hits, with Betts scoring twice and Freeman reaching base three times. However, the Dodgers went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position, leaving eight men stranded on base. These missed opportunities loomed large as the game wore on, especially in the face of their defensive struggles.
In the end, it was the Dodgers’ defensive miscues that sealed their fate. With Buehler unable to deliver a strong start and the defense faltering under pressure, the Dodgers dropped a game they could have won, further complicating their push for postseason positioning. They now lead the hard-charging Padres and D-backs by just two and a half games in the NL West.
The Dodgers wrap up their series with the Brew Crew on Thursday afternoon before hopping a plane for a weekend series in St. Louis against the Cardinals. Jack Flaherty will toe the rubber in the finale at American Family Field in Milwaukee for the Dodgers. First pitch will be 11:10 am PDT, so get your brunch reservations at the sports bar in early and join SportsNet LA for all the coverage.
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