Major League Baseball

Dodgers 7, Brewers 6

Published Mar. 21, 2012 2:26 a.m. ET

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Andre Ethier appears to have put last year's knee problems behind him.

Ethier hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Milwaukee Brewers 7-6 on Tuesday.

''I'm not trying to hit the ball a certain way other than hard and squared up,'' he said.

Ethier is 11-for-25 (.440) with two homers, and 10 of his hits have been for extra bases. He had an RBI grounder in the first and broke a 3-all tie in the sixth when he homered into the right-field bullpen off Marco Estrada.

Last year, Ethier hit just .220 against left-handers.

''I feel like he's one of the best hitters in the league when he's going right,'' manager Don Mattingly said.

Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley gave up three runs and five hits in 4 2-3 innings, including a two-run homer by Brooks Conrad.

Brewers starter Chris Narveson allowed three runs and seven hits in four innings.

''I had to settle down and make some pitches,'' Narveson said. ''When you see a couple balls get up, it's easy to make a mental note: `Hey, keep the ball down.''`

Los Angeles took a 3-0 lead in the first when Dee Gordon led off with a triple, James Loney had an RBI double and Mark Ellis singled in a run. Gordon had three hits.

Milwaukee's Nyjer Morgan went 2-for-3, including a double and a walk.

''He had really, really good at bats,'' manager Ron Roenicke said.

NOTES: Brewers reliever Francisco Rodriguez pitched two innings in a minor league game. ... Dodgers reserve INF Ivan DeJesus Jr. tore his oblique while swinging a bat Saturday against San Francisco. ''He feels better than the MRI shows,'' Mattingly said, adding DeJesus could be sidelined for a few weeks. ... NL MVP Ryan Braun was scratched because of tightness in a groin.

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