Brewers 1 3 0

WP- Kershaw (5-2)

LP- Gallardo (3-4)

HR- Ethier (4), Kemp (2)

The Dodgers entered a three-game series in Milwaukee bruised, battered, and looking for answers. Many feel that one possible answer to this disaster of a season is to fire Don Mattingly. Everyone has chimed in on their opinions about the bewildered skipper’s future, but even though the call to fire Mattingly is at an all-time high, he won’t likely be canned just yet. We don’t know what may be the final straw which may spur a ousting of management, but we do know that Mattingly is on thin ice. After being swept in an ugly fashion by Atlanta, Mattingly almost has to win this series in Milwaukee. After all the Brewers are also a last place team. Yet, somehow this doesn’t make me feel that confident.

4-12. That Dodgers must now go 7-4 for the rest of this month in order to avoid making Dodger history. This May could go on record for the worst May ever. If there’s ever a valid reason to let a manager go, that has to be one. Mattingly will have his top three pitchers in this series. If the Dodgers can’t beat Milwaukee with Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-jin Ryu on the mound, I’m certain that Mattingly will be on the chopping block. Sometimes the message a move makes is far more significant than the actual change the move may make.

Clayton Kershaw’s complete game win gives the Dodgers their first victory of the road trip. Photo: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

It was just like old times tonight. The good ‘ole days when Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier were the dynamic duo who crushed homeruns and clutch hits. The formula is pretty simple. When Matt Kemp is successful=the Dodgers are successful. Clayton Kershaw was once again magnificent, and he’s well on his way to his second Cy Young Award. The brilliant southpaw pitched all 9 innings and only allowed 1 run on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts and a walk on 107 pitches. Kershaw picked up his fifth win of the season while Gallardo dropped his fourth.

Yovani Gallardo strikes out Carl Crawford to open things up. Mark Ellis also goes down on strikes. Not a good start. Adrian Gonzalez grounds out, and the Dodgers go down 1-2-3. Is Mattingly sweating yet?

Clayton Kershaw goes to the mound for the Dodgers in the home half of the first. Kershaw retires Norichika on a pop-up and Jean Segura on a groundball to Uribe at third. Ryan Braun flies out, and Kersh also pitches a 1-2-3 inning.

Matt Kemp draws a lead-off walk in the second. Andre Ethier than scorches a beautiful triple over Aoki’s head in right center field! Kemp plates a run for the Dodgers. A.J. Ellis grounds out, and Juan Uribe strikes out swinging. Dee Gordon also goes down swinging, and the Dodgers fail to cash in Dre from third with all three available outs.

Kershaw retired the Brewers on three consecutive groundouts in the bottom of the second.

Clayton, who is more a dangerous hitter than Dee Gordon at this point, strokes a single to left field to begin the third inning. Of course Carl Crawford hits into a double play, and Kersh’s single is

Yovani Gallardo allowed 3 runs over six innings to the Dodgers and picked up the loss. Photo: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

immediately erased. Mark Ellis gets a two-out single to extend the inning. Gonzo flies out, and the Dodgers are unable to cash in the two singles.

Kershaw allows a lead-off walk to Rickie Weeks in the bottom of the third. Yuniesky Betancourt singles, and the Brewers have runners at first and second with nobody out. The pitcher Gallardo bunt sacrifices over his runners to second and third. Aoki’s groundball scores a run to tie up the game 1-1. Segura is Kershaw’s first strikeout victim, but not before the Brewers tie it up.

Kemp promptly grounds out to short to start the fourth. Andre Ethier’s beautiful swing is once again showcased as he hits a majestic solo homerun to right field! The Dodgers take a 2-1 lead. A.J. Ellis singles past weeks and into center field. Uribe’s broken bat grounder allows A.J. to reach second since he was already running on contact. Gordon grounds out to end the frame.

Ryan Braun singles to lead-off in the bottom of the fourth. Aramis Ramirez flies out to deep center field. Jonathan Lucroy flies out to left. Kershaw strikes out Carlos Gomez to end the inning.

Carl Crawford hits a one-out double to center field in the top of the fifth. Crawford advances to second on a groundout by Mark Ellis. Adrian Gonzalez strikes out, and the Dodgers strand yet another runner.

Clayton Kershaw strikes out two and retires the side in order in the bottom of the fifth.

In the top of the sixth Matt Kemp proceeds to wallops a no doubt about it homerun to center field! That’s Kemp’s second homerun of the year, and with that the Dodgers add another run to their lead, 3-1. Ethier grounds out. A.J. Ellis collects his second hit of the night with a single to left. Juan Uribe strikes out for the second time against Gallardo. Gordon strikes out to end the inning.

Ryan Braun singles with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. A wild pitch by Kershaw allows Braun to move over to second and in scoring position. Ramirez grounds out to Gordon, and the Brewers strand Braun.

Andre Ethier tripled and homered in the Dodger win Monday night. Photo: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

John Axford comes in for the seventh for the Brewers in relief. Yovani Gallardo pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits with 7 strikeouts and 1 walk on 105 pitches. Kershaw grounds out versus Axford. Crawford flies out to left. Mark Ellis grounds out, and Axford only needs six pitches to retire the Dodgers in order.

Kershaw pitches another easy inning in the seventh as he shuts down the Brewers 1-2-3.

Michael Gonzalez will pitch the eighth inning for Milwaukee. Gonzalez strikes out. Matt Kemp strikes out. Ethier strikes out swinging. Ethier gets ejected from the game after arguing with the ump. It could have been due to the ball that was thrown over his head by Gonzalez. Ethier gives the ump a dirty look as he is escorted back to the clubhouse.

Other than a throwing error by Dee, Kershaw is able to dominantly retire the Brewers in the bottom of the eighth.

Burke Badenhop strikes out A.J. Ellis and Uribe in the ninth. Gordon grounds out as he goes 0-for-4 on the night.

Kershaw is in for the ninth, and if may get a special bullpen-free treat tonight. Braun flies out to left field for the first out. Kersh whiffs Aramis with a nasty curve. Lucroy flies out, and Clayton Kershaw has a complete game win in the books! A Kershaw start is refreshing, and the Dodgers will not have to open up the “Box of Pain” that is the bullpen tonight. We can rest easy tonight. Yet time will tell whether Mattingly stays.

The Dodgers improve to 18-25, and Don Mattingly lives to see another day in the Dodger dugout.

Tomorrow evening game two will feature Zack Greinke’s return to Miller Park. Hiram Burgos will pitch for Milwaukee.

Clayton Kershaw-4-2 vs. Yovani Gallardo-3-3

This just in, Magill optioned, Lilly activated. The bad decisions keep coming. But yeah everyone order those World Series tickets now!

#Dodgers today optioned Matt Magill to @abqtopes and activated Ted Lilly from the 15-day disabled list.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 20, 2013

The Dodgers begin a three game series against the Brewers in Milwaukee tonight, amidst rumors of Don Mattingly’s impending doom. Let the record show that I don’t think Mattingly will actually be fired right now, because it’s too early in the season. However if the Dodgers get swept again, or lose two of three, he may get fired before the Dodgers return home. At least that’s what a lot of people are saying at the moment.

Help us Kershaw!-Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Regardless of the fire storm, the games must go on, and there is one tonight at Miller Park. The Dodgers will give the ball to their ace Clayton Kershaw to try and turn their fates around. Kershaw is the only Dodger that should deserve any praise this year, expect for Gonzalez maybe. Kershaw is on his way to wining another Cy Young award. He is 4-2 and leads the league with a miniscule 1.40 ERA. He has 67 whiffs and only 17 walks. Kershaw has had trouble against the Brewers, but has pitched well at Miller Park. Against the Brewers the lefty is 3-3 with a 3.92 ERA in seven starts with 44 whiffs. At Miller Park, Kershaw is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA. Kershaw has only allowed one run at Miller Park in his career. One! Milwaukee does have a .262 (22 for 84) average against Kershaw, but no home runs. Ryan Braun is 5 for 19 (.263 against Kershaw, and Rickie Weeks is (.444) 4 for 9 with three doubles. The always dangerous Carlos Gomez is 4 for 7 with three RBI.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo (49) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. The Pittsburgh Pirates won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee will counter with their ace right hander Yovani Gallardo. The 27 year old has struggled this season. He has a 3-3 record, and posted a 4.50 ERA. His strikeouts are down, (36), and his walks allowed (20), and hits per nine (9.7) have all gone up respectively. He is still able to keep the ball in the ball park though, only allowing four home runs. Gallardo is 1-3 with a 6.21 ERA against the Dodgers, but has posted a record of 41-19 and 3.37 ERA at Miller Park. The Dodgers are hitting .274 (34 for 124) against Gallardo with two home runs. Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .364 (4 for 11) with a home run versus Gallardo. Juan Uribe has hit the other home run, and is hitting .273 against the young right hander.

In case you are wondering, Scott Van Slyke is ok, after fouling two pitches off of his leg yesterday. X-rays were negative, and he is listed as day-today, but the Dodgers don’t expect him to miss any time.

Game time is at 5 PM and televised on KCAL. Join us after the game for our recap and opinions. Could this be Don Mattingly’s final series as Dodger manager? Many people seem to think that it is. I doubt it, but if the Dodgers get swept again, he may not be back. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Go Blue.