Ashby took over in the seventh with a one-run cushion and immediately faced trouble. Andy Pages doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third on Enrique Hernández’s sacrifice bunt. Ashby struck out Shohei Ohtani and got Mookie Betts to ground out, stranding the tying run.
The Dodgers had another chance in the eighth. Will Smith doubled with one out and reached third when right fielder Sal Frelick mishandled the ball. Ashby escaped again, retiring Kyle Tucker on a flyout and striking out Teoscar Hernández. Neither of those late runners at third scored.
Hamilton gave Milwaukee insurance with two outs in the ninth, hitting Edwin Díaz’s pitch 402 feet to right-center. Ashby then retired Tommy Edman, Pages and Enrique Hernández in order, with the final lineout settling into Jackson Chourio’s glove in left.
Ashby allowed two hits, struck out three and did not walk a batter in his 39-pitch save. JoJo Romero, credited with the win, had worked two scoreless innings before him, striking out three and allowing one hit.
Los Angeles had taken control in the second. Pages singled home Tucker for the first run, and Ohtani followed later in the inning with a 428-foot, three-run homer off Dustin May. The Dodgers led 4-0 after Ohtani’s first homer following a 25-game drought.