Dodgers fall to Brewers again, 3-2; Matt Kemp to return Tuesday

The Dodgers have had precious few games like Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Brewers, in which the offense struggled to come up with a big hit.

The Dodgers outhit the Brewers, 8-4, yet could never get their offensive wheels really moving.

There was, however, good news Monday for the Dodgers: Matt Kemp ripped it up during his two-game rehab stint at triple-A Albuquerque and is scheduled to rejoin the Dodgers’ lineup Tuesday against Milwaukee.

Kemp, who has been on the 15-day disabled list with a sore hamstring, went five for seven with a pair of home runs and five RBIs in his two games in Albuquerque.

Still, the Dodgers don’t have much to complain about after missing their top player for the last 15 days. While Kemp was out, the Dodgers went 9-5 and gained a half-game in the National League West over the second-place Giants, currently 6 1/2 games back.

But at Chavez Ravine on Monday, the Dodgers continued to struggle with the Brewers. [Corrected:] The Dodgers are a baseball-best 21-6 at home. Against the Brewers overall, however, they are 1-3.

The Dodgers actually took the early lead, when Tony Gwynn Jr. singled to lead off the bottom of the first inning, stole second, was sacrificed to third on an Elian Herrera bunt and scored on an Andre Ethier double.

The Brewers tied the score on Aramis Ramirez’s fourth home run of the year, this one coming in the fourth inning off Aaron Harang.

Milwaukee took the lead with a pair of unearned runs in the sixth inning, though the error was charged to Harang, who threw high on Norichika Aoki comebacker that first base umpire Todd Tichenor ruled pulled James Loney off the bag. Replays indicated Loney kept his foot on the bag.

Regardless, the door was cracked and the Brewers did not waste their opportunity. Ryan Braun, booed throughout the night, walked before Ramirez singled in Aoki. Braun scored on Rickie Weeks’ sacrifice fly.

Harang (3-3) pitched five-plus innings, giving up four hits and three walks while striking out three.

Shawn Marcum kept the Dodgers off-balance enough to raise his record to 3-3.

The Dodgers scored their second run in the eighth inning against former Angel Francisco Rodriguez after Bobby Abreu led off with a single and stole his first base as a Dodger. Jerry Hairston Jr. singled in Abreu.

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Dodgers fall to Brewers again, 3-2; Matt Kemp to return Tuesday