Dodgers ride Snell to 2-1, but Brewers steal spotlight with defensive record

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MILWAUKEE — Blake Snell delivered a masterclass on the mound Monday night, but a rare defensive moment — unseen in postseason baseball for more than three decades — became the unforgettable highlight of Game 1.

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 in the opening contest of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field. Snell’s dominant eight-inning outing set the tone for the defending World Series champions, yet it was a wild fourth-inning sequence that stole the spotlight and produced one of the strangest double plays in playoff history.

The Dodgers, who captured last year’s championship against the Yankees, took a 1-0 series lead despite dropping all six of their regular-season games against Milwaukee earlier this year.

When a near home run becomes a double play

Max Muncy stepped up in the fourth inning with the bases loaded and one out. Facing Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester, the Dodgers infielder crushed a 1-0 cutter deep toward center field.

The ball left Muncy’s bat at 104 mph with an estimated distance of 404 feet. Statcast data showed it would have cleared the fence in nine Major League ballparks, including Dodger Stadium.

Milwaukee center fielder Sal Frelick sprinted back, leapt at the wall, and got his glove on the ball. But it slipped out, hit the yellow padding atop the barrier, and dropped back into play. Left-field umpire Chad Fairchild quickly signaled no catch.

Frelick grabbed the loose ball and fired it to shortstop Joey Ortiz, setting off a chain reaction that confused nearly everyone on the field.

Confusion on the basepaths creates chaos

At third base, Teoscar Hernandez tagged up when Muncy made contact but hesitated midway before heading home. That brief pause proved crucial. Ortiz relayed the throw to catcher William Contreras, who stepped on home plate for the force out just ahead of Hernandez.

Meanwhile, Will Smith on second and Tommy Edman on first had started running but turned back to their bases once the ball bounced off the wall. Muncy, unsure if Frelick made the catch, ran through first base.

Contreras quickly assessed the situation. Seeing Smith still between bases, he walked toward third and stepped on the bag for another force out. The inning ended abruptly, leaving players and fans stunned.

Officially scored as an 8-6-2 double play, the sequence marked the first of its kind in at least 35 years of postseason history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Historical rarity on display

The last known 8-6-2 double play in the majors came in a regular-season game on April 16, 2004, when Cubs center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. caught a deep fly from Sammy Sosa and started a relay to the plate for a double play. Monday night’s play in Milwaukee, however, was even rarer given its postseason context.

Because two runners were forced out, Muncy’s deep drive was officially scored as a fielder’s choice groundout. At 404 feet, it became the second-longest ball in Statcast history to result in a double play since 2015.

Frelick, who had tracked the ball nearly 400 feet, stood in center field with wide eyes and arms spread before realizing what had happened. When he did, he laughed in disbelief.

The Dodgers challenged both force outs at home and third base. After multiple video reviews, umpires confirmed the calls stood.

Had the ball cleared the wall, the Dodgers would have had an 88 percent win probability. Instead, the Brewers’ improbable double play flipped momentum, giving Milwaukee a 56 percent chance at that point.

Snell delivers vintage performance

While the defensive oddity drew headlines, Blake Snell’s effort on the mound carried Los Angeles. The left-hander faced the minimum 24 batters through eight innings and allowed just one base runner.

Caleb Durbin led off the third with a single, but Snell immediately picked him off first base, which went into the scorebook as a caught stealing.

Snell threw 103 pitches, struck out 10, and kept Milwaukee’s hitters off balance all night. It was his best postseason outing since his Tampa Bay Rays days.

Despite a sold-out crowd waving yellow rally towels in the Brewers’ first NLCS appearance since 2018, Snell’s precision silenced them inning after inning.

Freeman provides offensive spark

Freddie Freeman, the veteran cornerstone of the Dodgers’ lineup, finally broke through in the sixth inning. He drilled a solo home run to right field, his first of this postseason. The homer came after he hit four against the Yankees in last year’s World Series.

Freeman later added a double in the eighth off reliever Trevor Megill but was left stranded on third.

The Dodgers extended their lead in the ninth when Mookie Betts drew a bases-loaded walk, making it 2-0 before the Brewers staged a late rally.

Late drama keeps crowd engaged

Roki Sasaki, who recently shifted from starter to closer, entered in the ninth but struggled with command. He gave up one run and left with two outs and runners on the corners.

Blake Treinen replaced him and immediately walked William Contreras to load the bases. The tension built as Brice Turang came up representing the tying run.

Turang struck out swinging, ending the game and giving the Dodgers the win in Game 1. The crowd at American Family Field erupted, even in defeat, recognizing the defensive gem they had witnessed earlier.

Playoff experience matters

The Dodgers showcased their playoff composure once again. They’re looking to defend their championship after beating the Yankees in five games last October.

Milwaukee, on the other hand, is chasing history of its own. The Brewers haven’t reached the World Series since 1982 and are still seeking their first title.

The last time these two teams met in the NLCS was in 2018, when Los Angeles won in seven games. Monday’s opener reminded everyone that postseason baseball often defies regular-season logic. The Dodgers had been swept by Milwaukee in six meetings this summer, yet they dominated when it mattered most.

As the series continues, the Brewers will look to rebound from a frustrating opener defined by Snell’s dominance and a defensive play that instantly entered postseason lore.

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