Brewers 9, Dodgers 2: Dallas Keuchel is solid and the bats break out to avoid a sweep

LOS ANGELES – The circumstances were a bit different the last time Dallas Keuchel was here.

It was Oct. 24, 2017, when Keuchel opened the World Series for the Houston Astros that the veteran left-hander last took the mound at Dodger Stadium.

Keuchel went 6 ⅓ innings that day allowing three runs but being outdueled by Clayton Kershaw in a Dodgers victory.

Seven years later, Keuchel made his first regular-season appearance at the park. And though the circumstances were significantly less pressure-packed in an early-July contest than during the Fall Classic, Keuchel still had an important task: Bring an end to the Milwaukee Brewers’ abbreviated skid at a place where things always seem to go askew.

Keuchel did his part, going 4 ⅓ scoreless innings while backed by home runs from Christian Yelich, Eric Haase and Blake Perkins in a 9-2 Brewers win to cap the series and a grueling stretch of the schedule.

BOX SCORE: Brewers 9, Dodgers 2

Keuchel did not record a single strikeout but got back to what he does best by keeping the ball on the ground, inducing nine ground ball outs and avoiding any damage swings.

And, now, after two separate trips to the West Coast in a span of three weeks, the Brewers get to go home for one final week before the all-star break.

Dodgers break through but Perkins adds insurance right back

Talk about a feel-good swing for a player. Perkins has been mired in a rough slump and, since Garrett Mitchell's return from injury, seen his playing time decrease. Coming into the day, Perkins was 8 for his last 45 with just one extra-base hit and a .460 OPS.

He did reach on a bunt single in his second at-bat Sunday but was picked off second base by catcher Will Smith on the very next pitch, which not only erased the good of his hit but likely made matters even worse.

Perkins came out swinging his next time up and left no chance of being picked off, lofting a solo homer down the line in left off Dodgers reliever Ryan Yarbrough. It was Perkins' first home run since May 29 and gave Milwaukee a 5-2 lead right after Chris Taylor's two-run shot cut the deficit to two the half-inning prior.

One inning later, Perkins delivered with the bases loaded, coming through by lining a single through a drawn-in infield to drive home two and push the lead to 7-2.

Eric Haase finds his spring form

Picking up where he left off in March, Eric Haase laced a two-run homer to the opposite field to extend the Brewers' cushion to 4-0 in the fifth inning.

Haase batted .395 with a 1.333 OPS and five homers in 18 spring games for the Brewers this year but wasn't added to the opening day roster due to the team already rostering William Contreras and Gary Sanchez and not wanting to carry three catchers. Somewhat surprisingly, Haase cleared waivers to remain in Milwaukee's system and play for Class AAA Nashville until Sanchez went on the injured list June 26.

Haase was hitting .429 in a small sample entering Sunday but was without a homer until taking a fastball from Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski, who was making his MLB debut, to the opposite field.

Christian Yelich delivers a taste of the big leagues

Wrobleski had been cruising through the first three innings of his big-league career but then had to face the top of the Brewers lineup a second time.

Jackson Chourio walked and stole his 10th base of the year, then Yelich followed with his 11th home run of the season with a straightaway missile to put the Brewers ahead, 2-0. It was the second homer in as many days for Yelich and third of the road trip.

Yelich would add a walk, single and RBI double later in the day to raise his season OPS to .940.

Brewers schedule

Brewers vs. Pirates, 7:10 p.m. Tuesday. Milwaukee RHP Colin Rea (8-2, 3.34) vs. Pittsburgh TBA. Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620.

Brewers vs. Pirates, 7:10 p.m. Wednesday. Milwaukee RHP Tobias Myers (5-3, 3.52) vs. Pittsburgh LHP Martin Perez (1-4, 4.72). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620.

Brewers vs. Pirates, 1:10 p.m. Thursday. Milwaukee RHP Aaron Civale (2-6, 5.18) vs. RHP Paul Skenes (5-0, 2.12). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers 9, Dodgers 2: Dallas Keuchel is solid and the bats break out to avoid a sweep