The Milwaukee Brewers, despite hitting the second-fewest home runs in the regular season, secured 103 wins, the most in the majors. In a pivotal move against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell smashed consecutive home runs off Blake Snell in the seventh inning. This propelled the Brewers to a 6-2 victory on Wednesday, giving them a commanding 3-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.
Adding to the momentum, Jackson Chourio also homered on the first pitch of the game, edging the Brewers closer to their first NL pennant. The Brewers, who previously competed in the American League, reached their sole World Series appearance in 1982, falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in a seven-game series.
With Game 4 set for Thursday at Dodger Stadium, the Brewers have the opportunity to achieve a rare postseason sweep after being swept by the Dodgers in the previous season’s NLCS. The Dodgers, who swept the Brewers in all four games last year, now face elimination after the surprising defeat.
Milwaukee’s manager, Pat Murphy, highlighted the team’s resilience, noting their ability to respond to opponents’ scores consistently. The Brewers have clinched five comeback victories in seven postseason games, a notable achievement for a team that had never beaten the Dodgers in past playoff matchups.
The Dodgers, trailing 3-0 in the series, are on the brink of a challenging situation. Despite a strong performance from Snell, who retired 14 batters in a row before the seventh inning, the Brewers’ relentless offense turned the game in their favor. Bauers’ and Mitchell’s successive home runs marked a historic feat against Snell, who had not given up a home run in 46 1/3 innings prior to the game.
The Brewers’ offensive prowess continued to shine, extending their lead to 5-2 in the eighth inning and adding another run in the ninth. The Dodgers, struggling to generate runs, took a brief lead in the sixth inning on Will Smith’s double. However, their efforts fell short against the Brewers’ solid pitching and timely hitting.
With the series hanging in the balance, the Brewers are poised to make history by securing their first NL pennant and potentially completing a memorable postseason sweep against the Dodgers.
