The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Monday night in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.
More news: Dodgers beat Brewers in NLCS Game 1 behind Blake Snell all-time performance
The top of the fourth inning proved to be the epitome of the NL showdown as the Dodgers loaded the bases with one out against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester.
Max Muncy hit a 404 shot to center field that could have gone over the wall had Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick not robbed Muncy of what could have been a grand slam. However, Frelick bobbled the ball and caught it after it bounced off his glove onto the wall.
Because the ball hit the wall after bouncing off Frelick’s glove, the ball was in play and force plays were available at each base. Frelick threw to Brewers shortstop Joey Ortiz, who made a perfect relay throw to the plate where Teoscar Hernandez was only a second behind.
“It happened quickly. I didn’t know he didn’t notice it, to be honest with you,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We discuss that rule, Teo knows the rule – I think he just had a brain fart there.”
Brewers catcher William Contreras completed the double play by throwing the ball from home plate to third base, where Will Smith had not advanced from second base, ending the inning.
“It’s very unusual. It’s hard for the baserunner to figure out what happened,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “But it’s one of those plays in baseball that we got really lucky with. Great defense from our guys, for Sal (Frelick) and (William) Contreras to be heads up, and Joey (Ortiz) to make the throw. Yeah, that was big.”
Roberts called for a review of the play, which was judged an 8-6-2 double play.
“I just wanted clarity – honestly I didn’t know they were calling it bullshit,” Roberts said. “So I just wanted to get clarity on the whole situation and then make sure they got a couple of cleanouts, which they did. And in the end, those guys on the pitch and the replay got it right. They did a good job.”
While that fourth-inning blunder was certainly a momentum shifter by the Dodgers, left-hander Blake Snell held Milwaukee’s lineup down for eight shutout innings with 10 strikeouts.
LA’s lineup managed two runs, which fortunately was enough for the Dodgers to steal home field advantage in the NLCS.
More news: Dodgers robbed of multiple runs on controversial Sal Frelick defense play in NLCS Game 1
Photo credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn images
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