On the same day that saw Dodger third baseman Juan Uribe likely headed to the DL, his replacement, utility infielder Jerry Hariston Jr. made what was arguably one of the best defensive plays of the young season to save the potential tying run from scoring in the 8th inning and preserving a 4-3 lead and eventual winning score.

With two outs and Brewers pinch runner Carlos Gomez leading off from third base, Brewers shortstop Alex Gonzalez laced a hard grounder to Hairston’s right. With Gomez breaking for home on contact and carrying the tying run, Hairston was somehow able to glove the hot grounder and while still on one knee near the third base line, he was able to muscle an absolutely impossible throw to get Gonzalez out at first base. Even though Dodger first baseman James Loney had to field the throw on one hop, Hairston’s web gem-worthy throw got Gonzalez by a good eight feet.

Jerry Hairston makes a diving stop of Alex Gonzalez's hot grounder...

makes an impossible throw to first base while still on one knee...

and still gets Gonzalez by 8 feet.

Coming off back-to-back heartbreaking walk-off defeats, Dodger starter Aaron Harang pitched six strong innings to keep his team in the game, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking one. Harang was replaced by Jamey Wright who pitched the seventh and eighth innings and promptly struck out the first five batters he faced. But just as had been the case on the two previous nights by Javy Guerra and Matt Guerrier, Wright allowed a two out walk to George Kottaras. The speedy Carlos Gomez was brought in to pinch run for Kottaras and quickly stole second base. Back-up Dodger catcher Matt Treanor’s errant throw sailed into center field, allowing Gomez to reach third base, and just when it began to look like déjà vu all over again, Hairston made his outstanding play at third to end the inning.

Dodger closer Javy Guerra was brought in to pitch the bottom of the 9th fresh off of his first blown save and loss of the season just two nights earlier, but just as he has done so many times in the past, he quickly put all of that behind him and pitched a scoreless 9th that included yet another outstanding play by Hairston, who bare-handed a Travis Ishikawa bunt attempt and threw out the speedy Ishikawa on a bang-bang play at first base. Guerra then struck out Norichika Aoki and Rickie Weeks to end the game and collect his MLB leading 6th save while giving Harang his first win of the season.

Matt Kemp slugged a solo home run in the 5th inning off Brewers lefty and former Dodger Randy Wolf. It was Kemp’s MLB-leading seventh home run and ties him for the MLB RBI lead with teammate Andre Ethier at 18.

With the win, the Dodgers are now 10-3 and tied with the Washington Nationals for the best record in the National League.

GO DODGERS!