Game 137: Dodgers @ Milwaukee Brewers 3:6

Gosh, it sucks to be the team that loses to a the other team, snapping their ten-game losing streak. Coming in, it seemed like a sure fire win. Especially with Greg Maddux on the mound.

However, the stars were not aligned properly for the Dodgers. The Brewers beat the Dodgers 6-3, handing Maddux his first loss as a Dodger. To add insult to injury, San Diego won their game, cutting the Dodgers' lead in the National League West to just two games.

Maddux, who was 3-0 since being traded to the Dodgers by the Chicago Cubs at the July 31 deadline, allowed a run and two hits in his first four innings. But an infield hit glanced off Maddux's glove in the fifth, setting up a three-run inning for Milwaukee. Maddux (12-12) gave up six runs and 10 hits in his first loss since July 19. Maddux is 1-3 against Milwaukee this year.

"Usually you're not as good as you think and sometimes you're not
as bad as you think," Maddux said. "I could have made some
better pitches."

That is definitely the sound of a true professional.

After a leadoff single by Damien Miller and sacrifice bunt by Brewers starter Dave Bush, Maddux attempted to backhand a hard-hit ground ball by Brady Clark. The ball bounced off Maddux's glove and he couldn't pick it up in time to throw out Clark, putting runners on first and third with one out.

"I just couldn't find it," Maddux said. "It's hard to see sometimes, especially
when you're not really catching it and (are) just trying to react to it."

Graffanino's RBI double scored Miller, and Jeff Cirillo followed that up with a sacrifice fly that scored Clark to give Milwaukee a 3-1 lead. After an intentional walk to Prince Fielder, Corey Hart singled home Graffanino to put the Brewers ahead 4-1. Geoff Jenkins, making only his fifth start since being benched on August 11, singled to left, but rookie of the year candidate, Andre Ethier threw another rookie of the year candidate, Prince Fielder out at home to end the inning.

The Dodgers rallied for two runs in the sixth, cutting the Brewers lead to 4-3, but Corey Hart threw out Jeff Kent at the plate to end the inning. Dodgers manager Grady Little lifted Maddux with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth. Graffanino then singled off reliever Giovanni Carrara, scoring Miller and Bush to put the Brewers ahead 6-3.

Kenny Lofton scored on an RBI double by J.D. Drew in the first to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

Fielder decided to cause some problems in the fourth inning, making an aggressive slide into second base for his sixth stolen base of the season then calling time to exchange words with Kent.

I understand that passions are high, and emotions are being worn on sleeves out there. Tempers will flare and words will be exchanged. But to call time out just to talk smack? That is just immature and lame. Maddux should have plunked Fielder his next at bat. That, by far, would have been his "welcome to the majors" moment.

Brewers manger, Ned Yost admitted Fielder might have slid a little late.

"Prince is a kid that plays the game hard, and I think he's been just
a little tired of getting his butt kicked," Yost said.

Some randomness:

1) Unfortunately, Grady Little said the chances of Chad Billingsley pitching in the team's series against the NL-leading Mets beginning Friday in New York are "very slim." Billingsley sustained a mild strain to his left oblique muscle on Sunday.

2) The Dodgers recalled LHPs Eric Stults and Tim Hamulack from Triple-A Las Vegas and purchased the contract of RHP Giovanni Carrara from Single-A Vero Beach before Monday's game.

3) Kent has an 11-game hitting streak.