MILWAUKEE – Dominance over an opponent in the regular season usually means little or nothing for a playoff rematch.
Just ask the 2015 Mets, who went winless against the Cubs for seven games during the regular season before sweeping four NLCS games to clinch a spot in the World Series.
The Dodgers lost all six regular season games against the Brewers this year, but the payback tour for the defending World Series champions began Monday night.
Blake Snell’s left arm delivered. Confirming the Dodgers’ decision to sign him last season, Snell faced the minimum 24 batters in eight innings in his team’s 2-1 victory in Game 1 of the NLCS at American Family Field.
The Brewers rallied against the Dodgers bullpen in the ninth inning, but ultimately left the bases loaded after scoring once against Roki Sasaki.
Caleb Durbin’s single in the third inning set up the lone Brewers baserunner against Snell. But Durbin was eliminated first — officially caught stealing — and the Brewers quietly carried on the rest of the way. Snell set a career postseason high with 10 strikeouts during his 103-pitch night.
“I feel like I’ve been pretty locked in all postseason,” said Snell, who has an 0.86 ERA over those three starts.
The twirling yellow rally towels and the enthusiastic crowd – excited about the Brewers’ first NLCS appearance in seven years – could only provide so much energy for the home team.
“The kid is incredible,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said, referring to Snell. “I’ve seen him pitch like that before.”
Max Muncy came within inches of a grand slam in the fourth, but instead saw his deep run to center field turn into an inning-ending double play.
Sal Frelick juggled Muncy’s shot near the top of the fence, with the ball hitting the padding before ending up in Frelick’s glove. Teoscar Hernández, who retreated to third base to tag and hesitated, was thrown out at home on a force play before catcher William Contreras walked to third base and forced out Will Smith, who never ventured far from second base, to end the inning.
Freddie Freeman homered in the sixth for the first run of the game. Mookie Betts walked with the bases loaded in the ninth, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 2-0.
Sasaki, who has moved to the role of closer after spending the regular season in the Dodgers’ starting rotation, could get just two outs in the ninth, allowing a run before being removed with runners on the corners. Blake Treinen walked Contreras to load the bases before Brice Turang struckout to end the drama.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated he was at least considering the possibility of having Snell start the ninth.
“I thought it was a tough call for me,” Roberts said. “He hadn’t been in the ninth inning [this season] and possibly rest regularly during his next outing. I thought it was 50-50. Roki throws baseball very well. We had a two-point lead. I felt good with Roki there.”
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