The Brewers wasted no time seizing the opening edge in the National League Championship Series, and they did it the way they’ve built so much of this run: by getting timely hits, a big swing from Brice Turang and another lockdown effort from the bullpen.
Milwaukee edged the Dodgers, 2-1, on Sunday night in a game that stayed tight from start to finish. Jacob Misiorowski got the ball for the Brewers, while Tarik Skubal took the mound for Los Angeles, and the low-scoring feel never really left. The Brewers came through with just enough offense, then turned the rest over to a relief corps that once again slammed the door.
Turang was one of the biggest difference-makers. After a rough NLDS against the San Diego Padres, when he went 2-for-16 with three strikeouts, one stolen base and two walks, he looked much more like himself in Game 1. He tied the score in the fourth inning with a homer off Skubal, giving Milwaukee its first run of the night.
He didn’t stop there. Turang was also sharp on defense all night, including a play in which he robbed Mookie Betts of a hit. For a Brewers team looking for momentum, that’s the kind of version of Turang that changes the tone of a series.
The rookie in the lineup also delivered. He was in there because the left-handed Skubal was starting, and that move paid off when Luis Lara punched a single up the middle in the fifth inning to bring home what ended up being the winning run.
Misiorowski lasted 4 1/3 innings before turning things over, and Milwaukee’s bullpen handled the rest. The relievers covered 4 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed only two hits, another reminder of how sturdy that group has been.
Skubal did his part for Los Angeles in a solid outing, even in defeat. He worked five innings, gave up two runs and struck out seven, but he still ended up taking the loss in Game 1. During the summer, he had even been connected to the Brewers as a possible trade piece before landing with the Dodgers, but that storyline now comes with Milwaukee holding the early series lead.
The Dodgers also didn’t get much from Smith and Hernandez at the plate. The two combined to go 0-for-6 in Game 1, and both have had a tough time during the playoffs. Smith is slashing .053/.100/.053, while Hernandez is hitting .111/.111/.444.
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Postseason offense has a way of shrinking the margin for error, and Friedmans comments put a spotlight on the exact kind of swings that can decide a series. The Dodgers have enough talent to survive stretches where the bats go quiet, but Milwaukee is the sort of opponent that can make every missed chance feel bigger, which leaves Los Angeles with a clear pressure point entering the NLCS. [Read more 🡒]