Dodgers beat Brewers 2-1 in NLCS Game 1, record 8-6-2 double play

When Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Monday night, the National League Championship Series (NLCS) saw its first ever playoff 8‑6‑2 double play. The drama unfolded at National League Championship SeriesAmerican Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before a crowd of 43,793. With the series now 1‑0 in Los Angeles’ favor, the game’s surprising defensive gimmick and a masterful outing by a veteran left‑hander set the tone for what could become a classic showdown.

• Date: October 13, 2025
• Venue: American Family Field, Milwaukee
• Final Score: Dodgers 2, Brewers 1
• Historic Play: First playoff 8‑6‑2 double play
• Winning Pitcher: Blake Snell, Dodgers

Historic 8‑6‑2 Double Play: How It Unfolded

The fourth inning delivered a moment you’d expect to see only in a baseball textbook. With the bases loaded and one out, a deep fly to center was snagged by Sal Frelick, the Brewers’ 24‑year‑old rookie. He appeared to make the catch, but the ball ricocheted off his glove, slammed into the wall, then bounced straight back into his hand.

Dodgers runners Teoscar Hernández, Mookie Betts and Will Smith assumed the ball had been secured and tagged up. Hernández broke for home, but Joey Ortiz, the Brewers’ 25‑year‑old shortstop, whipped a perfect strike to catcher William Contreras. Hernández was nailed at the plate, completing the unprecedented 8‑6‑2 double play.

Frelick later explained, “I saw it floating there. So, I grabbed it and fired it in to Joey because I saw Teoscar was going back to third to tag.” Ortiz added, “I was just listening to what Brice [Turang] was telling me. He was doing a good job, letting me know to go for home.” The play instantly became the night’s headline, a rarity even in a sport that thrives on oddities.

Blake Snell’s Dominant Start

On the mound, Blake Snell, the 32‑year‑old left‑hander, delivered a performance that left even Dodgers‑skeptics speechless. He threw eight innings, striking out ten and facing the minimum 27 batters. The only Brewers’ runner he allowed, rookie outfielder Caleb Durbin, was promptly picked off in the third inning.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised the effort, noting that Snell “gave us a clean, efficient game that forced us to stay on our toes.” For Milwaukee, veteran manager Pat Murphy, who is in his first season at the helm after a decade as a Brewers coach, the outing was a painful reminder of the gap in firepower. “It’s the most dominant performance I’ve seen from an opposing starter in my ten years with this club,” Murphy said.

Brewers’ Missed Opportunities

The Brewers had a chance to flip the script late in the ninth. After Christian Yelich drew a walk to load the bases with two outs, second‑baseman Brice Turang faced Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen. Turang dodged a breaking ball that threatened his back knee, only to swing and miss on the next pitch, sealing the loss.

“If you see me look in the dugout, I’m thinking, ‘Damn,’” Turang admitted after the game. “I know it. Everybody knows it. I couldn’t tell you why I did it, I just got out of the way. That’s just how it is. I could have turned into that.” His strike‑out epitomized the Brewers’ night – a series of near‑misses that left fans clutching their throats.

Managerial Moves and Pitching Matchups

Roberts’ decision to bring in Treinen with the bases loaded was a calculated gamble. The veteran right‑hander, 34, had been reliable in high‑leverage spots all season, and his poise paid off. Meanwhile, Murphy’s bullpen choice — turning to Treinen’s counterpart, left‑hander Micah Johnson — was met with mixed reviews from the press.

Looking ahead, the Dodgers will hand the ball to rookie right‑hander Freddy Peralta, 28, in Game 2, hoping to widen the series lead. The Brewers, on the other hand, will likely lean on their ace, Corbin Burnes, who posted a 2.85 ERA during the regular season. If the Brewers can capitalize on Burnes’ veteran presence, they could still swing momentum before the series shifts to Los Angeles.

What This Means for the Series

The opening victory gives the Dodgers a psychological edge, but the series is far from over. Milwaukee entered the NLCS having swept all three regular‑season meetings at home, a fact that still haunts them now that they’re trailing. The historic double play, while celebrated, underscored a defensive miscommunication that could haunt the Brewers if not corrected.

For the Dodgers, Snell’s masterclass proves that even a team with a deep rotation can rely on veteran poise when the stakes rise. If they maintain this level of efficiency, a 2‑0 lead heading back to Chavez Ravine looks plausible.