Mike Fiers Dazzles in Return, Brewers Down Zack Greinke and the Dodgers

Aug 9, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Mike Fiers (50) pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

After a dramatic late-inning collapse and comeback to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, the Milwaukee Brewers were back at it on Saturday.

The second game of the three-game series pitted former Brewer Zack Greinke (12-7, 2.71 ERA) against Mike Fiers (0-1, 2.57 ERA in four relief appearances) who is filling in for the injured Matt Garza.

Fiers pitched like it was July of 2012 again, when he was one of the surprising bright spots for a Brewers team doomed by a bad bullpen. The Brewers offense did their part against Greinke and they rolled to a 4-1 win.

Both pitchers faced the minimum in the first inning. Fiers put the Dodgers down in order. Greinke allowed a single to Jonathan Lucroy but he was erased on a double-play ground out by Ryan Braun.

Fiers put the Dodgers down in order in the second, including strike outs of Matt Kemp and Juan Uribe. Khris Davis gave Milwaukee a two-run lead on a home run (19) to right center after a Scooter Gennett single.

The Dodgers got their first base runner of the game with two outs in the top of the third when Greinke drew a walk but that would be it for them in the inning as Dee Gordon grounded out to end the frame.

With two outs in the bottom of the third, Lucroy knocked his second single to left of the game, but that would be it for the Brewers in the inning. Through three innings Milwaukee had two runs on four hits, the Dodgers had only managed a walk.

With one out in the top of the fourth Adrian Gonzalez belted his 17th home run of the season, and second of the series to cut the lead in half.

Aramis Ramirez led off the bottom half of the frame with a single to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, but he was erased on a double-play ground out by Gennett. Davis grounded out to end the inning.

Fiers had another perfect inning in the top of the fifth with Milwaukee still holding a 2-1 lead. Greinke did the same in his half of the fifth.

Gordon knocked a one-out single in the top of the sixth to give the Dodgers some life but after four pick-off attempts he was thrown out trying to steal second and that would be it for Los Angeles in the frame.

Gomez launched a home run (18) off the foul pole in left to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Lucroy followed with his third line-drive single to left of the day.

Braun followed with a walk to put two on for Ramirez who knocked a single to left-center to bring in Lucroy and move Braun over to third. That made it four consecutive hits for the Brewers to lead off the sixth.

Gennett flew out to center for the first out. It wasn’t deep enough to score Braun. Greinke struck out Davis for the second out and Reynolds popped out to short to end the inning with Milwaukee up 4-1.

That was it for Greinke, who tossed six innings and allowed four runs on eight hits and one walk. He struck out six.

Kemp singled with one-out in the seventh, but he was erased on a double-play ground out by Carl Crawford to make it seven complete for Fiers.

Gomez drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh against Brian Wilson. Gomez stole second. The Dodgers challenged the call, but the ruling was upheld. Gomez was caught stealing third however, to end the inning.

Fiers went back to the bump for the eighth and put down Uribe, A.J. Ellis and pinch-hitter Justin Turner in order. It was just the 10th time this season that a Brewers starter went eight innings.

That would be it for Fiers. He allowed just one run in eight innings on three hits and one walk. He struck out five.

Pedro Baez came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth for the Dodgers. He got quick ground outs by Lucroy and Braun before Ramirez singled to left, off the glove of Uribe. Gennett grounded out to end the inning.

Francisco Rodriguez came on for the ninth for Milwaukee and Gerardo Parra came into the game in left field for Davis. Andrew Ethier pinch hit for the pitcher to lead off the inning.

Ethier drew a walk to start the inning. Gordon flew out to Gomez in center for the first out of the inning. Puig followed with a fielder’s choice ground out.

Segura fielded and fired to second for the lead out, but Gennett’s turn wasn’t in time for Puig. Adrian Gonzalez followed with a pop single to shallow right to put Puig at third. Kemp grounded out to Reynolds who tossed to K-Rod to end the game.

Fiers got the win for Milwaukee, his first of the season and K-Rod got the save, his 35th of the season. Greinke took the loss for the Dodgers.

The win guaranteed the Brewers a series win, their second in a row after having won just one of their previous nine.

The series will conclude on Sunday at 1:10 when Jimmy Nelson (2-2, 4.20 ERA) takes on Clayton Kershaw (13-2, 1.82 ERA).