Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Ryan Braun went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and two runs batted in, as the Milwaukee Brewers topped the suddenly scuffling Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-3, in the opener of a three-game series at Miller Park.

Bill Hall homered for the second straight game for the Brewers, who have won three straight. Prince Fielder went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Mike Cameron went 2-for-4, drove in a run and scored a run.

Carlos Villanueva (2-4) earned the win after allowing three runs -- two earned -- on eight hits over six innings. Salomon Torres threw two shutout innings in relief, and Eric Gagne -- who was demoted from the closer's role on Sunday -- survived a rocky ninth for his 10th save.

"I talked to him and asked how he felt, and if he was ready to take his role back, and he was more than ready for that," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "The whole bullpen kind of gets destructive when your closer struggles. The quicker you get him back, the better it is for everyone."

Russell Martin went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Dodgers, who suffered their fifth straight loss. Matt Kemp doubled, drove in a run and scored a run, while James Loney tripled and scored.

Brad Penny (5-4) surrendered five runs on nine hits over six frames -- racking up six strikeouts -- and took the loss.

Trailing 3-2, the Brewers rallied off a tiring Penny in the fifth.

Villanueva worked a leadoff walk, and two outs later, Cameron singled to center. Braun followed by ripping a double to center to plate both runners and put the Brewers on top. Fielder's single to left scored Braun for a 5-3 advantage before Penny finally stemmed the two-out rally.

Villanueva and Torres kept the Dodgers from getting any closer through eight innings, and Gagne put two men on in the ninth before retiring Juan Pierre on a popup to end the game.

"It felt good to get out and get some work in," Gagne said. "Like I said, it was more of a mental issue. When you have the trust of all of the players out there, it's kind of hard not to believe in yourself. The way we pick each other up is just amazing. That's really what a team is all about."

The Dodgers picked up a two-out run in the first, as Kemp ripped a double to center and scored when Jeff Kent flipped a single into left.

Poor defense allowed L.A. to tack on another run in the third, as Pierre beat out an infield single with one out and advanced to second on a throwing error by Rickie Weeks. One out later, Kemp dropped an RBI single in front of Cameron in center.

Milwaukee got on the board in the bottom of the frame, as Weeks grounded a two-out single to left, stole second, and dashed home when Cameron ripped a single to left.

Loney stroked a leadoff triple to right in the fourth, and scored when Martin grounded a single through the right side of the infield. Blake DeWitt followed with a single, but Villanueva settled down and escaped the jam.

Hall brought the Brewers back within one in the bottom of the inning with a two-out opposite field homer.