MILWAUKEE — Playoff Rematches and Surprising Turns
Even if you’ve completely outplayed your rival during the regular season, a playoff rematch often flips the script.
Take the Mets in 2015, for instance. They couldn’t win a single game against the Cubs during the season but managed to sweep them in the NLCS, ultimately reaching the World Series.
This year, the Dodgers faced the Brewers with a similar, albeit challenging, history—losing all six regular season matchups. But they kicked off their playoff campaign on a high note Monday night.
Much of that success came from Blake Snell. He affirmed the Dodgers’ decision to sign him last offseason, pitching to at least 24 batters over eight innings in a 2-1 victory during Game 1 of the NLCS at American Family Field.
The Brewers attempted to rally in the 9th against the Dodgers’ bullpen, but Aki Sasaki struggled, allowing a run while the bases were loaded.
Caleb Durbin’s single marked the Brewers’ only successful advance against Snell, who also saw Durbin caught stealing, really quieting the team’s momentum. Snell set a postseason record for himself with 10 strikeouts, throwing 103 pitches and then exiting the game.
With the crowd waving their yellow rally towels in excitement—the Brewers’ first NLCS appearance in seven years—they still found it hard to muster energy in support of their team.
Max Muncy almost turned a deep hit into a grand slam during the fourth inning but ended up with an inning-ending double play instead.
Sal Frelick had a moment near the fence as Muncy’s shot bounced off and landed in his glove. However, it resulted in an out at third base, once Will Smith advanced towards second.
The Dodgers let another chance slip away in the fifth when Enrique Hernández led off with a double but was grounded into a double play shortly after.
Then came Freddie Freeman’s sixth-inning home run, marking his first RBI of the postseason. Freeman had some power last year, hitting four homers against the Yankees in the World Series.
He added a double in the eighth inning, but stayed stranded at third. In the 9th, Mookie Betts’ walk helped load the bases for the Dodgers.
Sasaki, switching roles from starter to closer this season, couldn’t get through the ninth cleanly, allowing one run before being ejected with a runner on base. Blake Treinen followed by walking Contreras, setting the stage for Bryce Turan to strike out and seal the game.
