Dodgers’ Zack Greinke loses fourth start in six games, 4-1, to Brewers

ON THE MOUND: Zack Greinke lost for the fourth time in six starts, giving up four runs and eight hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out six. Greinke said he made plenty of mistakes but didn’t count among them the high fastball Khris Davis launched for a two-run home run in the second inning. “That was upsetting because it was exactly what I wanted to do,” Greinke said. Davis’ home run moved the Brewers in front, 2-0. The Brewers’ other two runs came in the sixth inning, when Carlos Gomez hit a lead-off home run and Aramis Ramirez drove in Jonathan Lucroywith a single to center field.

AT THE PLATE: The Dodgers’ entire run production consisted of a fourth-inning solo home run byAdrian Gonzalez. The home run was Gonzalez’s second in as many days and 17th of the season. Gonzalez has 77 runs batted in, one fewer than National League leader Giancarlo Stanton. Manager Don Mattingly blamed the offense for the loss, saying of Greinke, “We really didn’t do a whole lot to help him.” In his first start of the season, Brewers starter Mike Fiers limited the Dodgers to three hits and a walk over eight innings.

EXTRA BASES: Andre Ethier has been working out at first base over the last two days under the watch of Mattingly, a former All-Star at the position. Ethier, who has started only two of the last 16 games, could be a left-handed-hitting option at first base if Gonzalez goes down with an injury. Gonzalez’s current backup, Scott Van Slyke, bats right-handed. Mattingly said he was encouraged by how Ethier has looked. “His actions are good,” Mattingly said.

UP NEXT: Clayton Kershaw (13-2, 1.82 earned-run average) will face Jimmy Nelson (2-2, 4.20) and the Brewers at Miller Park on Sunday at 11 a.m. PDT. On the air: TBS, SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 1020 (Spanish).