Craig Kimbrel can’t protect lead, Dodgers lose to Brewers in 11 innings

MILWAUKEE — On “Top Gun Night” at American Family Field, the Dodgers went riding into the danger zone – handing Craig Kimbrel a one-run lead.

A spectacular game-saving catch by Chris Taylor in the 10th inning gave them an opportunity to take the lead in the 11th on Justin Turner’s RBI single. But none of Kimbrel’s first 20 saves for the Dodgers this season involved him entering with a one-run lead and successfully protecting it.

It didn’t happen Tuesday night, either.

Kimbrel loaded the bases in the 11th and gave up a two-run walk-off single to Victor Caratini as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Dodgers, 5-4.

When baseball adopted the “Manfred Man” rule in extra innings – putting a runner on second base to start each inning – for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Dodgers won five of their first six extra-innings games under the new rule.

Over the next two seasons, though, they have gone 8-19 in extra innings (including 2-6 this season).

They seemed to be falling victim to the same kryptonite in the top of the 10th inning when bad baserunning by Joey Gallo cost them a tie-breaking run.

Gallo was the first runner to get a free ticket to second base to start the 10th inning. After Taylor struck out to start the inning, Betts shot a ground ball to shortstop – right in front of Gallo, who bolted for third base nonetheless. He was an easy out.

Trea Turner followed with a single that probably would have scored Gallo from second. Instead, the Dodgers came up empty when Freddie Freeman grounded out.

That set the Brewers up to walk off with a win in the bottom of the 10th against Alex Vesia. With two outs and runners at the corners, Andrew McCutchen drove a line drive into the left-center field gap. The crowd was putting down its cheese curds, ready to celebrate a Brewer victory when Taylor swooped in, reached up and made the catch as the ball went over his head.

The catch was reminiscent of another game-saver by Taylor, then playing left field, in Game 7 of the 2018 National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers took the lead in the top of the 11th when Justin Turner dumped an RBI single into center field. But they couldn’t pad the lead for Kimbrel.

The Brewers had gone hitless in the first 9-1/3 innings thrown by Dodgers relievers in this series. But Hunter Renfroe beat out a bunt single to start the 11th. Kimbrel struck out Kolten Wong but walked Luis Urias to load the bases.

Caratini dropped a soft line drive in front of Mookie Betts to drive in the tying and winning runs.

More to come on this story.

Bill Plunkett graduated from Michigan State with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He has worked for daily newspapers as a sportswriter since 1983, in Southern California since 1987 and at the Orange County Register since 1999.