(Sports Network) - Owners of the best record in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers seek a fifth win in six games tonight, as they continue a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

The Dodgers were in danger of dropping the opener of this set on Friday, but Mark Loretta forced extra innings with a run-scoring single off of Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning before Los Angeles exploded for six runs in the 10th frame for a 12-8 victory.

Casey Blake and Russell Martin each drove in a run with base hits in the 10th frame before Matt Kemp's grand slam made the difference, as Milwaukee scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to account for the final score.

Kemp's homer was one of five hit by the Dodgers in the game. Andre Ethier and Martin each had long balls, while Manny Ramirez tied Mickey Mantle for 15th on the all-time list with his 536th career homer.

"You don't want to rely on just home runs from day-to-day," said Dodgers manager Joe Torre. "As the game wore on, we got better results at the plate. Our guys came out of the bullpen and did a good job."

J.J. Hardy and Mat Gamel each hit solo homers for the Brewers, who have lost seven of their last nine and blew a lead late for a second straight game. Milwaukee was tagged for five runs in the eighth inning of Thursday's 5-1 loss to St. Louis.

"We couldn't close the deal [Friday night]," said Milwaukee manager Ken Macha. "It's tough to lose two days in a row with a one-run lead late in the game."

Milwaukee's poor play as of late has dropped it three games back of the first- place Cardinals in the National League Central, while the Dodgers own a seven- game lead for first place in the NL West.

Jeff Weaver appears to be in line for a spot start for LA with Eric Milton landing on the disabled list. Four of Weaver's 14 appearances this year have been starts and he is 2-0 with a 3.15 earned run average in that role.

"I've been a starter my whole career, so it's something that I'm obviously used to," Weaver said on Los Angeles' Web site. "I think it's been more of an adjustment pitching out of the bullpen. When I get spot starts, that kind of comes back easy."

The right-hander hasn't drawn a starting assignment since defeating the Angels and his brother Jered on June 20, making three relief appearances since. He last pitched on Sunday, tossing three shutout frames versus the Padres and earning a victory for his efforts.

Weaver, 32, is 3-3 with a 4.35 ERA in seven games (6 starts) versus the Brewers.

The Brewers will send Mike Burns to the hill six days after a loss to the Cubs in which he was hammered for seven runs and nine hits over just 4 2/3 innings of work. Burns, who will turn 31 on Tuesday, fell to 1-2 with a 5.57 ERA in four appearances this year.

The right-hander has faced the Dodgers just once prior, allowing a run in a single inning of relief.

Los Angeles and Milwaukee are meeting for the first time since the Dodgers won four of six meetings a season ago. The Dodgers are 8-3 over the last 11 matchups between the clubs.