LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles Dodgers tonight will try to rebound from being shut out in a postseason game at Dodger Stadium for the first time since 1983 when they face the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers were limited to five hits by five pitchers in a 4-0 loss in Game 3 Monday and trail the best-of-seven series two games to one. Teams that take a 2-1 lead in the NLCS have a 19-7 series record all-time, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the official statistician of Major League Baseball.
Rich Hill will start for the Dodgers against fellow left-hander Gio Gonzalez.
Hill will be pitching for the first time since Oct. 8, when he started Game 4 of the Dodgers NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves and pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and four hits, striking out three and walking five in the Dodgers series-clinching 6-2 victory.
Gonzalez was the starter in Game 1 of the NLCS, allowing one run and one hit in two innings, striking out one and walking one, leaving with the Brewers trailing 1-0 in a game they won 6-5.
One certain change in the Dodger lineup -- with Milwaukee starting a left-hander -- Austin Barnes will be the catcher, replacing Yasmani Grandal, manager Dave Roberts said. Grandal was one for four with three strike outs Monday and had his third passed ball of the series, drawing boos from many in the crowd announced at 52,793.
“He had a tough night and obviously the fans voiced their opinion,” Roberts said. “They're passionate. They want to win. They want the best out of all of us, especially in the postseason.
“So I know it's not personal. And I think it's just one of those things that they were just as frustrated as we all were.”
Milwaukee enters Game 4 with 13 victories in its past 14 games. The only loss during that span came Saturday in Game 2 of the NLCS.
The Dodgers were hitless in 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position Monday, struck out 14 times and left eight runners on base.
“I thought we had the right guys in those moments and we just didn't execute,” Roberts said. “I definitely don't think it's the personnel. It's a matter of when we get in those spots we have to find a way to be productive.”
The Dodgers had runners on second and third with one out in the second inning. Grandal struck out for the second out. Kike Hernandez was walked intentionally, but pitcher Walker Buehler struck out to end the inning.
Grandal doubled leading off the fifth, but Hernandez flied out, Buehler struck out and Joc Pederson lined out to center fielder Lorezno Cain to end the inning.
Justin Turner reached second on a two-base throwing error by Milwaukee third baseman Mike Moustakas with one out in the sixth, but Manny Machado grounded out and Cody Bellinger struck out to end the inning.
The Dodgers loaded in the bases with one out in the ninth off Jeremy Jeffress on Turner's single, Machado's double and a walk to Yasiel Puig, but Grandal and pinch-hitter Brian Dozier stuck out to end the game.
The Dodgers had played 50 postseason games at Dodger Stadium since they were last shut out there, when Hall of Famer Steve Carlton and Al Holland combined on a seven-hitter in the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 victory over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1983 NLCS.
The Brewers opened the scoring in the first, thanks to two Southland natives. Christian Yelich, a Westlake High alumnus, walked with one out. Yelich scored when the next batter, Ryan Braun, a Granada Hills High alumnus, doubled.
Milwaukee increased its lead 2-0 in the sixth when Travis Shaw tripled with two outs and scored on a wild pitch by Buehler.
Orlando Arcia hit a two-run homer in the seventh off Buehler, driving in Erik Kratz, who doubled.
“Arcia put a good swing on it, and I didn't think he got enough to hit it out, but unfortunately for us he did,” Roberts said.
The home run was Arcia's third of the postseason. He became the third player to hit three or more home runs in the postseason after hitting three or fewer in the regular season, joining Willie Randolph of the 1981 New York Yankees and Roberto Perez of the 2016 Cleveland Indians.
Buehler was charged with the loss, allowing four runs and five hits, striking out eight and walking one.
“I thought he couldn't command his curveball,” Roberts said. “I thought there were opportunities to get ahead of hitters with the breaking ball and he was trying but just couldn't really strike it.
“I thought the fastball had really good life and command all night long. The punch-outs speak to that. And he did enough to a point to keep us in the ballgame.”
Brewers starter Jhoulys Chacin was credited with the victory, pitching 5 1/3 shutout innings, allowing three hits, walking two and striking out six.
“Jhoulys was just outstanding tonight,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “He made big pitches. The strikeout to Grandal was a huge pitch. The last ... four times we've given him the ball it's just been a big- time performance each and every time.”
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