Braun's homer the difference in Brewer win

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LOS ANGELES - Ryan Braun’s two-run homer in the first inning held up last night, as the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Dodgers 2-1 at Dodger Stadium.

Michael Fiers won his Major League debut, giving up a run on five hits in seven innings with three strikeouts and no walks. Andre Ethier hit an RBI-double in the sixth for the only run off the 26-year-old Fiers – who had his familiar minor league catcher as Martin Maldonado was called up to replace the injured Jonathan Lucroy. It was the first time in Brewers’ history that both members of a starting battery made their big league debuts. Fiers was also the seventh pitcher to start for Milwaukee this year – one more than all of last season, when the Brewers used the fewest starters in the Majors. John Axford earned his ninth save. Nathan Eovaldi lost his first Dodgers’ start of the year, as he also went seven innings.

Braun was booed heavily each time he came to the plate by a Dodger crowd that still thinks Matt Kemp should have been last year’s National League MVP. Kemp returned after missing 13 games with a bad hamstring, and the crowd chanted “MVP” the first time he batted. Kemp struck out, and he ended up going 1-for-4. One man showed his disdain for Braun by throwing back a foul ball that Braun threw in the stands. One inning later, Braun caught a fly ball to end the Dodger fourth – and he faked like he was going to throw the ball in the stands, then kept it and trotted in. Braun, who’s from the LA area, said he anticipated the booing – and he said there’s more energy at Dodger Stadium now than there’s been in a long time.

The series continues tonight. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo will face Dodgers’ left-hander and reigning NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw.

Tags: wisconsin sports, proam, baseball, brewers