BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lyle Overbay has found his niche with the Milwaukee Brewers, batting .444 as a pinch hitter.
He drove in three runs with a two-out double in the eighth inning for a 6-3 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night in a game between division leaders.
Overbay is now 8 for 18 coming off the bench, with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs.
“It’s just something where I kind of throw out mechanics and throw out everything and just look for a pitch to hit, put a good swing on it and hope for the best,” he said. “I’ve kind of found some holes this year, but I’ve been put in situations that I can succeed in.”
Brewers manager Ron Roenicke considered putting in Elian Herrera before settling on Overbay.
“Lyle’s been so good off the bench, and with people on base,” Roenicke said. “That hit was huge.”
The NL Central-leading Brewers scored five runs in the eighth off Jamey Wright (4-3), who gave up four hits and walked one.
“I’m the reason why we lost this game,” Wright said.
The Brewers tied their season high for runs in a single inning.
“If we’re going to be the best, we have to beat the best,” Overbay said. “As a team, we don’t panic. We’ll grind it out and find ways to win. We’re not a patient team, but we’ve made adjustments so we can score runs even if we’re struggling.”
Brandon Kintzler (2-3) got the victory, giving up one hit in one inning of relief.
Milwaukee tied the score 2-all on Scooter Gennett’s RBI single and Khris Davis’ run-scoring double after Wright allowed four consecutive hits, Milwaukee’s first since getting two hits in the first inning.
Brandon League struck out pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks before Overbay doubled to left, scoring Gennett, Davis and Mark Reynolds, who was intentionally walked, for a 5-2 lead.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his 37th save.
“It’s huge, especially with the pitching staff they have,” Rodriguez said. “We had to take advantage of every single opportunity we got and try to get some runs. They’ve got a pretty good bullpen, too.”
Ryan Braun went 1 for 3 with a walk and was roundly booed in his return to Milwaukee’s lineup after being held out for a game with a sore right hand. He scored the Brewers’ first run.
Yasiel Puig went 3 for 4 and had a pair of RBI singles that pushed across the NL West leaders’ first two runs. He scored on Matt Kemp’s sacrifice fly to make it 5-3 in the eighth.
Facing the Brewers for his second straight start, Zack Greinke allowed two hits in five innings, equaling his second-shortest outing of the season. He struck out six and tied his season high with five walks. The right-hander struggled with his control, giving up two-out walks three times.
“I wasn’t really sharp,” Greinke said. “All those walks built up my pitch count (99) some. As much power as they’ve got in that lineup, you really don’t want to make any mistakes. It’s mainly not attacking enough.”
Jimmy Nelson gave up two runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked one in his second straight outing against the Dodgers, who beat him 5-1 last Sunday.
RISING RAMIREZ
Milwaukee 3B Aramis Ramirez went 2 for 4 with a walk and a run, raising his career average to .367 with three homers and eight RBIs in 13 games against the Dodgers.
FIRST PITCH
New Lakers coach Byron Scott threw a strike in handling the first pitch. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said about returning to the team where he starred with Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson. “My heart has always been in Los Angeles.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: RHP Kyle Lohse will miss his scheduled start Tuesday because of a sore right ankle. Mike Fiers will take his regular turn in the rotation that day. … SS Jean Segura left the game with a bruised right hand.
Dodgers: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu became the sixth Dodgers player to go on the disabled list this month. He has a right hip strain and will be replaced in the rotation by newly acquired right-hander Kevin Correia. Ryu had an MRI on Friday that showed strains in muscles that help stabilize the hip and leg during his throwing motion. … INF Juan Uribe was taken out as a precaution in the seventh with tightness in his right hamstring.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Yovani Gallardo (7-6, 3.44 ERA) makes his first start of the season against the Dodgers. Opponents are batting .252 against him, and the team is 11-13 in his starts. He is 1-4 with a 5.98 ERA in his career against Los Angeles.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (14-2, 1.78) makes his second straight start against the Brewers. He allowed a run on six hits in eight innings against them last Sunday in a 5-1 victory. The left-hander struck out six and walked two on 100 pitches.
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