Manny ties Mantle on HR chart, Kemp’s slam in 10th lifts Dodgers over Brewers 12-8

Manny ties Mantle, Kemp lifts Dodgers in 10th

MILWAUKEE — Manny Ramirez tied Mickey Mantle on the career home run chart, and Matt Kemp hit a 10th-inning grand slam and made a fantastic catch for the final out to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers over the struggling Milwaukee Brewers 12-8 on Friday night.

Ramirez’s 536th homer pulled him even with Mantle for 15th place, and the Dodgers rallied against Trevor Hoffman in the ninth. Casey Blake drove in Ramirez with a triple in the 10th, and Kemp’s slam broke it open moments later.

Andre Ethier, James Loney and Russell Martin also homered for the Dodgers (55-31), who will enter the All-Star break with the best record in the majors.

Ramirez continued his torrid pace since returning from a 50-game drug suspension, hitting a two-run shot in the sixth. With two on in the 10th, Kemp made a running, over-the-shoulder grab of Jason Kendall’s drive to deep center with his back to home plate, similar to Willie Mays’ famous catch in the 1954 World Series.

This loss was especially painful for the Brewers because Hoffman blew a save opportunity for the second time this year and Carlos Villanueva (2-6) gave up six runs in the 10th for his second loss in as many days.

The five Dodgers homers marked their biggest power surge since hitting seven against the San Diego Padres nearly three years ago, but small ball paid off first.

Ramirez walked with one out in the 10th and Blake, who had been 0 for 4, hammered a pitch off the wall in right-center field that allowed Ramirez to easily score.

Juan Pierre intentionally walked and Martin hit an infield single that scored Blake. Orlando Hudson walked to load the bases and Kemp’s homer landed in second deck in left field sending fans streaming to the exits.

Ramon Troncoso (3-0) struck out Ryan Braun with the winning run at second to end the ninth and reliever Jonathan Broxton gave up two runs in the bottom of the 10th in his second straight shaky appearance after allowing three in Sunday’s 13-inning win against the Padres.

Rookie Mat Gamel and J.J. Hardy homered for the Brewers, who have lost seven of nine and fell three games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central to match their largest deficit since May 7.

Gamel’s homer in the eighth put Milwaukee up 6-5, but Hoffman gave it back after converting 19 of his first 20 save chances.

Martin singled to start the ninth, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hudson, reached third on Kemp’s bunt single and scored when Mark Loretta singled up the middle to tie it at 6.

With the Dodgers trailing 3-2, Ramirez’s opposite-field shot came after Ethier led off the sixth with a single against Brewers starter Braden Looper. Ramirez, who went 1 for 4, rounded third and made a “whatever” wave to fans who booed his every step.

When he returned to the dugout, he peered down the clubhouse tunnel with a grin on his face, but returned in time to see Martin’s two-out solo shot that made it 5-3.

NOTES: Ramirez is 7 of 22 with three homers, nine RBIs and seven runs scored in seven games since returning to the lineup. … Brewers RHP Dave Bush (triceps) allowed four hits and an unearned run in 4 2-3 innings at Class-A Wisconsin in his first rehab start. He could return to the rotation as soon as July 20. … Brewers RF Corey Hart (foot) missed his third straight game.