Andre Ehtier's Pinch-Hit Saves the Day for Dodgers in 3-2 Victory Over Brewers

So much for soreness.

Andre Ethier had a pinch-hit, game tying, two-run single in the seventh inning and then scored the winning run a play later as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Friday night.

Ethier left Thursday's game with a quad injury and Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly told the media before the game on Friday that Ethier would sit again due to "general soreness."

"Andre could have gone today if he had to, but I didn't want to push him over the edge," Mattingly said after the fact. "He swings the bat well off the bench and has experience.

Despite not starting, the veteran outfielder needed just one swing to change the game and give the Dodgers their third win a row.

"It's been a long season, with a lot of running catching up to me," Ethier said. "We decided to do the smart move and rest today, and it ended up benefitting both me and the team."

The single came off Brewers starter, Jimmy Nelson who had a no-hitter through five innings until he allowed back-to-back hits to Joc Pederson and Howie Kendrick in the sixth.

Nelson (6-9) went seven innings, allowing three runs (all unearned) on five hits with six strikeouts. Hernan Perez booted a grounder by Alex Guerrero with two outs and the Dodgers rallied from there.

"Sometimes that’s how big innings start, with an error," Ethier added. "We found a chink in his armor and were able to capitalize there."

Jimmy Rollins followed with a single before Ethier's bloop single tied the game at 2-2. Joc Pederson drove in the game-winning run moments later with a double off the wall in the left field corner that scored Ethier.

"In those moments I'm able to see the ball more slow, and focus on that situation," Ethier continued. "I knew I had only two outcomes: either I get a hit or I get out and the inning's over."

Jean Segura went 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Brewers and is hitting .469 in the month of July.

Mike Bolsinger got the start for Los Angeles and made it past the 5th inning for the first time since June 8th. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and six innings in a no-decision.

"It's big," Bolsinger said about going six innings. "This is definitely the way I wanted to go into the All-Star break. I haven't been able to go deep into games, and today my goal was to keep the team in the game."

Chin-Hui Tsao made his Dodgers debut in dramatic fashion picking up his first victory in the majors in 10 years. Tsao pitched a scoreless seventh, brushing off eight years of rust as the Taiwanese pitcher hadn't taken the mound in an MLB game since 2007.

"It feels like I'm dreaming right now," Tsao said through a translator after the game. "I don't quite know how to put my emotions into words. I'm very lucky to get this win today and I want to thank God and my teammates."

Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his fifteenth save of the season.

Game Notes:
It was the Dodgers 23rd comeback victory this season as the team moves to a season-high 12 games over .500 mark.

44,200 were in attendance on Friday night fireworks presented by Denny's.