Dodgers Beat Brewers 2‑1 in NLCS Game 1, Historic Double Play Shocks

When Max Muncy, first baseman of the Los Angeles Dodgers stepped up at American Family Field on 2025 NLCS Game 1Milwaukee, USA, the stage was set for a showdown between baseball’s two powerhouses. The Dodgers edged the Brewers 2‑1, but the real headline came from a bizarre 8‑6‑2 double play that turned a potential home run into a fielder’s‑choice groundout – a first in postseason history.

Historical Context

Both clubs entered the National League Championship Series with something to prove. The Milwaukee Brewers finished the regular season with an MLB‑best 109 victories, having steamrolled the Dodgers in all six July meetings (31‑16 run differential). Yet a lingering narrative painted the Brewers as “average Joes” despite the numbers, a line echoed by an unnamed team spokesperson in pre‑game coverage.

For their part, the Los Angeles Dodgers leaned on postseason experience. They last faced the Brewers in the 2018 NLCS, a series the Dodgers won, and they’d already marched past the Philadelphia Phillies in four games this October. With a World Series appearance in 2020 and another in 2024, the Dodgers’ veteran core felt confident, even as they heard the whisper that Brewers players’ names were unknown to most Dodgers.

Game 1 Highlights

Blake Snell (32), the 2023 NL Cy Young winner, opened for the Dodgers, while Aaron Ashby (26) took the ball for Milwaukee. Snell’s fastballs kept the Brewers’ lineup honest, but the game remained knotted at 0‑0 through three innings. The first run came in the bottom of the third when a two‑run single by Teoscar Hernández (32) plated a runner from first.

Later, the Dodgers answered in the sixth with a solo shot from Muncy that rode a line drive past the left‑field wall, putting Los Angeles ahead 2‑1. That run proved decisive because, as the night wore on, the Brewers could not muster another tally.

The Unusual 8‑6‑2 Double Play

The defining moment unfolded in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Muncy smashed a 104 mph fly ball to center field. Sal Frelick, center fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers sprinted, leapt, and seemed to have it in his glove. The ball, however, ricocheted off his leather, struck the wall, and fell back into his glove – a scene that left the runners scrambling.

Thinking the ball was caught, the Dodgers’ runners tagged up. In reality, the ball was live. The confusion gave Milwaukee a chance to pull off a once‑in‑a‑lifetime play. Joey Ortiz (25), the Brewers’ shortstop, fielded the bounce, fired to second‑base man Brice Turang (25), who then tossed the ball to catcher William Contreras (27). Contreras tagged Hernández as he sprinted home, completing an 8‑6‑2 double play – the first of its kind in MLB postseason annals, according to ESPN.

Statcast logged the ball’s projected distance at 404 feet, the second‑longest hit that ever resulted in a double play since the system began in 2015. Had the ball cleared the fence, the Dodgers’ win probability would have surged to 88 % (MLB.com analytics). Instead, after the double play, Milwaukee’s win‑expectancy jumped to 56 %.

Reactions from the Dugouts

"It’s very unusual," said Pat Murphy, manager of the Milwaukee Brewers post‑game. "It’s tough for the baserunner to figure out what happened. But we were lucky – great defense from Sal and Contreras, and Joey made the right throw. That was big."

Max Muncy was equally bemused. "He made an incredible play in center field. As for what happened after that, I’m not really sure," the Dodger said. "It’s definitely the worst fielder’s‑choice double play I’ve ever hit into in my life."

What This Means for the Series

The double play may have been a flash‑in‑the‑pan, but it underscores a deeper theme: Milwaukee’s arsenal is not just power, it’s opportunistic defense. The Dodgers, despite their postseason pedigree, now have to navigate a team that can turn a near‑home‑run into a rally‑killing sequence.

Analysts note that the Brewers’ bullpen, bolstered by recent acquisitions, will be pivotal in Games 2 and 3. Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ lineup, led by Muncy, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, will look to exploit any pitching mismatches—especially given the long‑ball potential of Milwaukee’s ballpark, which often turns routine fly balls into triples.

Looking Ahead

Game 2 is slated for Tuesday, October 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET on TBS, truTV and HBO Max, with loanDepot as the presenting sponsor. If the Brewers can replicate their defensive brilliance and keep the Dodgers’ bats in check, the series could swing back in Milwaukee’s favour. Conversely, if Los Angeles can clear the fences in Milwaukee’s hitter‑friendly environment, the narrative of “average Joes” will melt away.

• Final Score: Dodgers 2, Brewers 1
• Key Play: First 8‑6‑2 double play in postseason history
• Win Probability Shift: Dodgers 88 % → Brewers 56 % after the play
• Statcast Distance: 404 feet (second‑longest double‑play ball since 2015)
• Series Record: Dodgers lead 1‑0