Clayton Kershaw, Adrian Gonzalez lead Dodgers to 5-1 win over Brewers

Clayton Kershaw, who gave up one run and six hits in eight innings, earned his 14th victory of the season when the Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-1, on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park.

It wasn’t vintage Kershaw (14-2), who pitched out of trouble in four of the first five innings when the Brewers got the leadoff hitter on base. But the two-time Cy Young Award winner lowered his earned-run average to 1.78 as he struck out six and walked two.

Adrian Gonzalez led the offense with two hits, a walk and two runs batted in while A.J. Ellis highlighted a decisive two-run rally in the eighth inning with a solo home run.

Gonzalez tied the score, 1-1, in the third inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Kershaw. Matt Kemp drove in Gonzalez with the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and the first baseman brought home an insurance run in the seventh with a double.

After Ellis hit a one-out home run in the seventh inning, Kershaw drove in Miguel Rojas, who had doubled, to cap the scoring.

Kershaw also helped his cause on defense. With Richie Weeks on third base and Jean Segura at the plate with one out in the fifth, Kershaw made a diving catch on a popped up squeeze bunt attempt and threw to third base for the double play.

The Brewers scored in the first inning when Ryan Braun had a single with one out to drive in Carlos Gomez, who had walked and stolen second base.

The Dodgers got the win despite not playing again with shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained side muscle. Recently acquired infielder Darwin Barney was called up from triple-A Albuquerque to take over Ramirez’s spot on the active roster.