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Brewers turn triple play in win over Dodgers

Aug 16, 2011 - 7:31 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - The defensive formula of a triple play and four double plays, and eight shutout innings from Randy Wolf, sent the Brewers to a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Milwaukee had six hits Monday night, but half of them were solo homers, from Ryan Braun in the fourth inning, a pinch-hit shot from Jonathan Lucroy in the eighth and a blast from Corey Hart in the same frame.

Wolf (10-8) scattered six hits, fanned five and yielded a season-high five walks, but managed to win his fourth straight start thanks to some great defense in the opener of this four-game series.

Jerry Hairston Jr. threw out a runner at the plate for the NL Central Division leading Brewers, who have won four in a row and 17 of their last 19 contests and widened their lead to six games over second-place St. Louis.

"It was incredible, I give all the credit to the defense today," Wolf said. "I got into a couple of jams and they made incredible plays."

Ted Lilly (7-13) was the hard-luck loser for a third straight start, as he allowed two hits and a run over seven frames. The lefty, who walked two and fanned six, has given up four runs over his last three outings.

"Some weird things were going on," Lilly said. "Certainly their defense made some good plays to get them out of trouble."

Juan Rivera had two hits for the Dodgers, who swept a three-game series at home from Houston over the weekend by a combined 14-1 margin.

The Brewers turned the first triple play in the National League this year, doing it in the second inning. Matt Kemp walked and Juan Rivera singled to left to put men on first and second. James Loney then grounded a ball just past Wolf. Second baseman Josh Wilson flipped the ball directly from his glove to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, who stepped on second and threw to first for two outs. First baseman Prince Fielder then wheeled and threw home, where catcher George Kottaras applied the tag on Kemp, who tried to score on a head- first slide.

"It was a close play," Kemp said. "I was just trying to score a run and they got me."

It was the sixth triple play in franchise history for the Brewers, who last had one September 6, 2009 against the San Francisco Giants.

The only other triple play in the majors this year came from the Cleveland Indians, in an April 3 game against the Chicago White Sox.

There was more great defense from the Brewers in the following two innings. Dioner Navarro led off the third with a ground-rule double to center field. Justin Sellers then singled up the middle, but center fielder Hairston threw a perfect strike to Kottaras, who tagged out Navarro on the left leg on the slide home to keep the game scoreless.

"I don't see too many triple plays, maybe in the minor leagues, but not the big leagues," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "The play that Hairston made when he had to dive, get up and throw the runner out at the plate, was really something. I know we scored a couple of runs late in the game, but defense won that game."

Hairston made another great play the next frame. Andre Ethier walked with one out and Kemp followed with a fly ball to short center field. Hairston charged and made a diving catch before throwing to Fielder to complete the double play.

The Brewers didn't get their first hit until the fourth inning on Braun's 23rd homer of the year, a shot to left.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Navarro flied out to center field.

Lucroy homered leading off the eighth against Scott Elbert. Mike MacDougal was victimized by Hart's 18th of the year, a blast to right.

John Axford picked up his 35th save of the campaign when Rivera lined to Fielder, who completed a double play as Kemp was caught off first base, ending the game.

Game Notes

Lucroy had the fifth pinch-hit homer for the Brewers this season and the first of his career...Lilly tied his career-high in defeats, set during the 2006 season when he pitched for Toronto...The Brewers are 45-15 at home this season and moved 20 games (71-51) over .500 overall. They have won 16 of their last 18 at Miller Park.