Dodgers Edge Brewers 2‑1 in NLCS Game 1 Behind Historic 8‑6‑2 Double Play

When Milwaukee Brewers hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers for Game 1 of the 2025 National League Championship SeriesAmerican Family Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Oct 13, 2025, the Dodgers slipped out a 2‑1 victory thanks to a clutch performance by Blake Snell, starting pitcher for the Dodgers and an unprecedented 8‑6‑2 double play pulled off by Sal Frelick, center fielder of the Brewers, Joey Ortiz, the shortstop, and William Contreras, the catcher. The narrow win gave LA a 1‑0 series lead and set the tone for a tightly contested postseason showdown.

Historic 8‑6‑2 Double Play

In the fourth inning, with the bases loaded and one out, the Dodgers’ designated hitter Teoscar Hernández launched a deep fly ball toward center field. Frelick sprinted, glanced at the wall, and, after the ball ricocheted off his glove, seized it on the rebound. He immediately fired a throw to Ortiz, who relayed to Contreras at second base. The trio completed the rare center‑fielder‑to‑shortstop‑to‑second‑base sequence, recording three outs on a single play – a first in MLB postseason history.

Frelick later told reporters, “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 was telling me. He was doing a good job, letting me know to go for home plate.” The play erased a potential three‑run rally and shifted momentum toward the Dodgers.

Pitching Duel: Snell vs. Brewers Starter

The matchup on the mound was a study in contrasts. Snell delivered a masterclass, throwing eight innings of shutout baseball, striking out ten, walking none, and allowing just seven hits. His postseason ERA sits at a razor‑thin 0.86, underscoring his dominance this October.

The Brewers’ opening pitcher – a left‑hander whose identity remained unnamed in early reports – managed only 0.1 innings, surrendering a run and a hit before exiting. The loss forced Milwaukee to rely heavily on its bullpen, which could not contain the Dodgers’ late‑inning pressure.

Scoring Summary

• Dodgers: Freddie Freeman’s solo homer in the second inning provided the decisive margin.
• Brewers: Jackson Chourio’s ninth‑inning fly ball to center allowed Contreras to tag and score from third, accounting for Milwaukee’s lone run.
• Both teams finished with zero errors; the Dodgers logged seven hits, the Brewers just two.

In the bottom of the ninth, with the bases loaded and one out, reliever Blake Tridan entered, recorded two strikeouts, and sealed the save.

Reactions and Quotes

After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Snell’s poise: “He gave us a chance to win on the field and executed flawlessly.” Freeman, reflecting on his homer, said, “It felt good to break the dead‑lock early; the team just rode that energy.”

Milwaukee’s manager Craig Counsell remained optimistic despite the loss: “That double play was a turning point for us defensively. We just need to keep fighting; the series is far from over.”

Implications for the Series

The 2‑1 scoreline keeps the NLCS extremely tight. A single run separates the two clubs, meaning Game 2 will be a make‑or‑break affair. The Dodgers’ confidence is bolstered by Snell’s dominance, while the Brewers must find a way to generate offense against a pitcher who appears untouchable.

Analysts note that the Brewers’ reliance on small‑ball tactics – bunts, hit‑and‑run – may be insufficient against a staff that has held opponents to a sub‑one‑run average this postseason. Conversely, the Dodgers’ depth in the lineup, highlighted by Freeman’s clutch power, could prove decisive if they can generate runs early.

Background: NLCS and the 8‑6‑2 Play

The National League Championship Series, established in 1969, determines the NL representative for the World Series. This year’s matchup pits a seasoned Dodgers squad seeking its seventh World Series title against a Brewers club making its first NLCS appearance since 2018.

The 8‑6‑2 double play will go down in the record books. While standard 6‑4‑3 or 5‑4‑3 double plays are common, the center‑fielder‑to‑shortstop‑to‑second‑base variation has never been logged in postseason play, according to MLB’s official game logs.