Dodgers' 'pen feeling effects of dog days: 'Still have to execute'

MILWAUKEE -- After rallying from an early three-run deficit to take a one-run lead in the sixth inning, the Dodgers were on the cusp of taking three of four from the Brewers and extending their lead in the NL West.

But the Brewers pushed across three runs in the eighth off reliever Daniel Hudson to come away with the 6-4 victory, leaving the Dodgers, whose divisional lead has shrunk to two games, searching for answers when it comes to their bullpen.

“I just need to execute better. It was a hard-fought game,” Hudson said. “We were trying to get out of here with a series win and I just wasn’t good enough in the eighth inning.”

Hudson (6-2) took the loss after giving up three hits while also walking a batter in the game-changing inning. He blamed his pitch execution, but bad luck also played a part, as he was struck by two balls that could have been turned into double plays.

“The first one went between my legs and hit my glove. I tried to get out of the way and I just couldn’t,” he said. “The second one just caught the bottom of my shoe. It’s frustrating, but you still have to execute.”

Despite his heavy use as of late, Hudson wasn’t looking to blame fatigue for his performance.

“Obviously, it’s a long season,” he said. “I try to stay even-keeled and go out there whenever they ask me to. Physically, I can’t speak for everybody, but I feel great. Today just wasn’t my best. I just couldn’t get anybody out.”

As a whole, the Dodgers’ bullpen has seen its fair share of work, and it could be showing signs of wearing down. Reinforcements, however, are on the way, with Blake Treinen and Ryan Brasier set to come off the injured list soon.

“It’s tough, especially this time of year,” manager Dave Roberts said. “They’ve all been used and they’re all fatigued. Huddy has been one of our most consistent, if not our most consistent, relievers. He had two days off. I’m just trying to do the best I can in managing the guys’ workloads.”

The bullpen’s struggles undid yet another solid effort from recently acquired starter Jack Flaherty, who threw five innings of three-run ball. At first, it looked like it might be another tough outing vs. the Brewers for the right-hander, who entered Thursday afternoon’s game with a 4-7 record and 4.53 ERA in 18 career games (17 starts) against Milwaukee. His struggles against have been even more magnified at American Family Field, where he had been 1-4 with a 5.57 ERA in nine career starts.

After a leadoff double by Brice Turang, Flaherty surrendered a 421-foot homer to rookie sensation Jackson Chourio that gave Milwaukee a 2-0 first-inning lead. With one out, William Contreras smacked a solo homer into the second deck in left to extend the margin to 3-0. The Brewers just missed a third round-tripper off Flaherty when Jake Bauers’ deep drive fell just short of the center-field fence to end the inning.

Flaherty said he failed to execute his pitches in the first.

“I just didn’t make very good pitches and they put good swings on pitches that they should,” he said. “But then I got in synch and was able to get through the rest of the game and make some good pitches from there and the guys battled back.”

But after the rough opening frame, Flaherty got into a groove, facing the minimum over the next 11 batters and putting up zeroes the rest of the way.

“It was good to bounce-back after the first. I threw my pitches and was trying to keep the game right there,” Flaherty said. “But I wanted to go deeper to put less stress on the bullpen.”

Making his third start for the Dodgers since they acquired him from the Tigers on July 30, Flaherty gave up four hits in five innings, walking two and striking out seven on 93 pitches (60 strikes).

“I’m still learning him,” Roberts said of Flaherty. “You could see with the home run to Chourio, that was 91 [mph]. As the game went on, there was 95. I don’t know if he just feels his way into the game with his fastball. After the first inning, he was great. He mixed. He commanded the baseball. I was even having thoughts about having him go out for the sixth, but I thought he gave us all he needed to today.”