Brewers beat Dodgers 7-4 to lead NLCS 2-0 as William Contreras drives in three and Yamamoto exits early
Milwaukee followed a 2-1 Game 1 win with a 7-4 comeback in Game 2, as William Contreras drove in three and the bullpen threw five perfect innings.
The Milwaukee Brewers have won the first two games of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team that swept them at the same stage a year ago. A 7-4 comeback win at American Family Field on Monday, 12 October (US time), followed a tense 2-1 victory in Game 1 the night before, and the series now moves to Los Angeles with Milwaukee in control.
Game 2: Contreras leads another comeback
William Contreras was the central figure in Game 2, going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in. He drove in Brice Turang with a single off Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the first inning, later hit a 436-foot home run off reliever Kris Bubic to tie the game, and then singled to left for the go-ahead run an inning after that.
According to MLB.com, Contreras became the fourth player to record three game-tying or go-ahead hits in a single postseason game, and the first since Sandy Alomar Jr in the 1997 ALDS. The home run was the fifth of his postseason career, matching Jackson Chourio's club record.
The game swung back and forth before that. In the third inning Jake Bauers worked a 12-pitch walk and Christian Yelich followed with a two-out, two-run single that put the Brewers ahead. The Dodgers responded in the fifth, helped by throwing errors from rookie starter Logan Henderson, and a Freddie Freeman sacrifice fly gave Los Angeles its third lead of the night. Henderson was charged with four runs, only two of them earned.
Turang and Bauers added insurance runs with singles in the eighth inning to make it 7-4.
Yamamoto's shortest postseason start
It was a rare off night for Yamamoto. The Japanese right-hander recorded only eight outs, lasting 2 2/3 innings, the shortest postseason outing of his career. He had gone into the game on a run of five straight playoff appearances in which he allowed no more than one run.
Milwaukee's bullpen shuts the door
Once the Brewers went ahead, their relievers took over. Dustin May and three teammates combined for five perfect innings, and Milwaukee's bullpen retired the last 15 Dodgers batters in order after Tommy Edman reached in the fifth. Aaron Ashby got the final five outs for the save. The Dodgers have yet to hit a home run in the series.
Game 1 recap: Turang and Lara do the damage
Game 1 on Sunday was a pitchers' duel. Andy Pages gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead with an RBI single off Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski, who walked three and struck out five in 4 1/3 innings. Turang tied it with a solo home run off Tarik Skubal in the fourth inning, and Luis Lara singled home the go-ahead run in the fifth.
Skubal struck out seven in five innings for Los Angeles. Trevor Megill walked two batters in a nervy ninth, but Mookie Betts' deep drive to centre was caught at the warning track to end the game.
What comes next
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, 14 October, at 8pm ET in Los Angeles, which is 8am on Thursday, 15 October, in Malaysia. Blake Snell is set to start for the Dodgers against Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had already warned after Game 1 that "It's going to be a long series."
Key takeaways
- The Brewers lead the NLCS 2-0 after winning 2-1 and 7-4 at home in Milwaukee.
- William Contreras drove in three runs in Game 2, including a game-tying home run and the go-ahead single.
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto lasted just 2 2/3 innings, his shortest postseason start.
- Milwaukee relievers threw five perfect innings in Game 2; the Dodgers have not homered in the series.
- Game 3 is at 8am Malaysia time on Thursday, 15 October, in Los Angeles.
FAQ
What is the score in the 2026 NLCS? The Milwaukee Brewers lead the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 after winning Game 1 2-1 and Game 2 7-4.
When is NLCS Game 3 in Malaysia time? Game 3 starts at 8pm ET on Wednesday, 14 October, which is 8am on Thursday, 15 October, in Malaysia.
Who starts Game 3? Blake Snell is scheduled to pitch for the Dodgers and Robert Gasser for the Brewers.
Sources: MLB.com, Fox Sports, Yardbarker, Yahoo Sports