MILWAUKEE -- Down by three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday night, Milwaukee’s Hernan Perez tried to score from second base on Lorenzo Cain’s two-out single.

Alex Verdugo believes he might have convinced the Brewers he doesn’t have a typical left fielder’s throwing arm, using a laser to gun down Perez and helped the Dodgers hang on for a 3-1 win.

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Milwaukee might have been emboldened by a play in Los Angeles on Friday night, when Christian Yelich scored on a ninth-inning sacrifice fly by Jesus Aguilar that Verdugo caught in left field but threw well up the first-base line.

“Hopefully in the future they’ll learn from it,” said Verdugo, whose throw was clocked by Statcast at 98.4 mph, matching Washington’s Michael Taylor for hardest outfield assist this year.

“I’m very proud of my defense, and any time I can help the pitchers out and keep a zero on the board,” said Verdugo. “To help the team and show off the arm a little bit was awesome. For me, throwing somebody out is up there with hitting a home run. It’s a highlight for me.”

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Verdugo was inserted in left field for Joc Pederson in a double-switch in the seventh inning.

“Alex is a guy, to be able to plug him in anywhere, the defense at all three positions, the jumps he gets, the accuracy, he’s a huge weapon,” said Roberts.