The Milwaukee Brewers pulled off a remarkable defensive play during Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night.
In the fourth inning, Dodgers’ slugger Max Muncy stepped up to bat with one out and the bases full. He launched a deep fly ball to center field, where Brewers’ center fielder Sal Frelick sprinted after it but, unfortunately, the ball slipped through his glove and slammed into the wall.
Frelick quickly rebounded, sending the ball back toward the infield. This allowed the defense to get Teoscar Hernandez out on the play. Meanwhile, Will Smith misjudged the ball and didn’t make a move to third base, letting catcher William Contreras take a leisurely jog to third and score a key run for the Brewers.
Frelick was clearly taken aback by the turn of events, and, interestingly, the Dodgers couldn’t capitalize during that inning.
Still, the Brewers faced challenges offensively, as they were quiet in the subsequent fourth and fifth innings. Things shifted when Dodgers’ first baseman Freddie Freeman hit a home run in the sixth inning, giving Los Angeles a slim lead.
The Dodgers are hoping to defend their World Series title, which they claimed by beating the New York Yankees in 2024.
For the Brewers, this NLCS marks their first appearance since 2018, where they fell to the Dodgers in a tense seven-game series. Notably, they haven’t reached the World Series since 1982 and are still searching for their first championship ring.
