The Dodgers got one of the most dominating postseason pitching performances in MLB history from Blake Snell in game 1 of the NLCS, yet they barely hung on to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers by a 2-1 score at American Family Field on Monday evening. Snell was excellent, but the Dodger’s bullpen nearly blew the game in the bottom of the ninth. Once again they just hung on by the skin of their teeth, as Roki Sasaki and Blake Treinen combined to record the final three outs.
The Dodgers also survived one of the most bizarre base-running blunders in postseason history as well in an odd top of the fourth inning. Otherwise, the talk of the game was how utterly dominant Snell was. Snell tossed eighth innings of shutout ball, allowing just one hit, no walks and striking out ten. The only hit Snell allowed was a Caleb Durbin single in the bottom of the third. Snell immediately picked him off and went on to retire the seventeen Milwaukee hitters in a row. Snell faced the minimum through eighth, allowing just the one base-runner.
On a scale of 1-10 Ks, how good was Blake tonight? pic.twitter.com/AMzSOmoNHx
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 14, 2025
MAN I LOVE FREDDIE. pic.twitter.com/U0IpFAkX1G
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 14, 2025
The Dodger’s bats didn’t do much of anything until the top of the fourth. Left hander Aaron Ashby opened the game and was followed by Quinn Priester who pitched the next four innings. In that fourth inning, Teoscar Hernandez walked. After Freddie flied out, Will Smith singled and Tommy Edman’s single to center loaded the bases with one out. Max Muncy drove a deep fly ball to center (just one batter after Isaac Collins made a terrific play in left field to rob Freddie of an extra-base hit), center fielder Sal Frelick made a leaping try with his glove outstretched over the wall, the ball popped out of his glove, hit the wall, and fell back into his mitt. That meant it was not a catch, but the Dodger base-runners all thought it was. Frelick fired the ball into the infield and the Brewers were able to get a force out of the sliding Teo at the plate. The rest of the Dodgers were trying to go back to their respective bases because they thought the ball was caught, and Contreras ran over to third to step on the base for a double play. Everyone was confused, even the Brewers, but the Dodgers ran themselves out of the inning.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!?! #NLCS pic.twitter.com/x7BbmJ6hzX
— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2025
In the top of the sixth, Freddie Freeman muscled a ball over the wall in right field. No replay needed for this one, as the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers added one more run in the top of the ninth. With Abner Uribe on the mound for Milwaukee, Muncy walked, and Enrique Hernandez singled to right. After a sacrifice bunt from Andy Pages moved the runners over to second and third, Shohei Ohtani (who drew three walks on the night) was intentionally walked to load the bases. Mookie Betts also walks to force in a run. It’s now 2-0 Dodgers.
The Dodgers did not let Snell go out for the ninth inning. Oh that ninth inning. Usually the problems happen in the eighth. This time, Roki Sasaki entered the game and he just didn’t have it. Durbin led off the frame and popped out to third. Then a walk to Isaac Collins, Pinch-hitter Jake Bauers hits a ground-rule double with the ball bouncing over the wall. Jackson Chourio’s sacrifice fly to center plates the first run for the Brewers and the score is now 2-1 Dodgers. With two outs, Christian Yelich walks, and the Dodgers bring in Blake Treinen to get the last out. He also walks William Contreras (Ughh the walks) but he strikes out Brice Turang swinging for the final out. Dodgers hang on and win it 2-1!
The Dodgers take the opener and look to go up 2-0 before the series shifts back to Dodgers Stadium. Game 2 features a great pitching match-up. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound for the Dodgers while Milwaukee will give the ball to their ace Freddy Peralta. Seven more wins.
