Dodgers vs. Brewers: NLCS Game 1 Recap
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers faced off in the first game of the National League Championship Series, with the Dodgers taking the win 2-1. The game was a showcase of Blake Snell's dominance, as he struck out 10 Brewers in eight shutouts innings, not walking a batter. Snell's performance was one of his best, and he retired the final 17 batters he faced.
The Dodgers scored the first run in the sixth inning with Freddie Freeman's solo home run, breaking a 0-0 tie. Mookie Betts drove in LA's second run with an eighth-inning bases-loaded walk after Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked. The Brewers' closer, Roki Sasaki, wobbled in the ninth inning, allowing a run on a walk, a double, and a sac fly. Blake Treinen came in to clean up the ninth, stranding the bases loaded.
The Brewers' manager, Pat Murphy, opted for a bullpen game, with Aaron Ashby as the lefty opener. The Dodgers' starters, Freddy Peralta and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, will be the Game 2 starters on Tuesday. Historically, the team that wins Game 1 of a best-of-seven series has a 65% chance of winning the series.
The game was a high-drama affair, with the Dodgers taking a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning. The Brewers had a chance to tie the game in the ninth, but Jake Bauers doubled over Andy Pages' head in center field, and Jackson Chourio came up with a sac fly. The Dodgers' lead held, and they took the win.
The game was a testament to the Dodgers' strong starting pitching and the Brewers' struggles against left-handed starters. The Dodgers' bullpen, led by Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki, was able to hold the lead, and the team's ability to use starters in relief was key to their success.
The game also featured a bizarre double play in the fourth inning, with the Brewers turning an 8-6-2 double play. The play was a result of a ball that hit the wall and was nearly caught, leading to a base hit and a live ball. The confusion on the play led to a force out at the plate, and the Brewers were able to escape the inning without a run scoring.
Overall, the Dodgers' win in Game 1 sets the stage for a competitive series, with the team looking to take a 2-0 series lead before returning home for Games 3 and 4.
