Dodgers Edge Brewers in NLCS Game 3
The Los Angeles Dodgers topped the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 in the third game of the National League Championship Series on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. With this victory, they are now just one win away from making their return to the World Series.
If they achieve this, it would mark their first trip back to the World Series in 16 years, a significant milestone for the team.
The Dodgers got on the board early. Shohei Ohtani’s impressive start came after Aaron Ashby led off with a triple in the first inning. Shortly after, Mookie Betts added a double, putting the Dodgers ahead 1-0.
The Brewers managed to tie things up at 1-1 in the second inning. Caleb Durbin, the third baseman, connected for a triple that allowed him to score when left fielder Jake Bowers followed up with a single.
As the game progressed into the sixth inning, both pitchers—Tyler Glasnow for the Dodgers and Jacob Misiorowski, who took over for Ashby—were performing well.
In that sixth inning, the Dodgers pulled ahead again when Tommy Edman, the second baseman, hit a soft single that brought catcher Will Smith home, making it 2-1. Edman, who was the 2024 NLCS MVP, expressed his excitement, acknowledging the team had struggled during the regular season but seemed to be hitting their stride at the right time.
Following Edman’s hit, Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers first baseman, advanced to third and eventually scored due to an error by Brewers reliever Abner Uribe during a pickoff attempt.
It’s worth noting that no defending champion has reached the World Series since the Philadelphia Phillies did in 2009, and the last team to win back-to-back titles was the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2000. The Dodgers seem to be taking these playoffs seriously.
Max Muncy, the Dodgers’ third baseman, emphasized the importance of treating every game like it’s critical: “You can’t look ahead,” he said, mentioning how many teams struggle with that focus.
Mookie Betts added, referencing Kobe Bryant, that their job isn’t finished. “We just have to keep the pressure on,” he noted.
The Brewers had dominated the Dodgers during the regular season, going 6-0 against them, but the postseason has seen a shift. Milwaukee is now trying to avoid being swept, having lost their last ten postseason road games since 2018. They’ve faced stiff competition with the Dodgers’ pitchers showing an impressive postseason ERA of 1.54.
The Brewers will have to regroup quickly as they gear up for Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, which is scheduled for Friday at 8:38 p.m. ET.
