The Los Angeles Dodgers entered October hoping to accomplish something no National League team has done in decades. Now their championship ambitions are in serious danger.
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated Los Angeles 7-4 Monday night, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series. William Contreras delivered the biggest offensive moments, while Milwaukee’s bullpen completely shut down the Dodgers during the final five innings.
The result sends the series to Los Angeles with the two-time defending World Series champions needing a significant turnaround. For Milwaukee, the victory represented another important step toward its first World Series appearance since 1982. For the Dodgers, it created a difficult situation that will test their postseason experience.
William Contreras changes the game
Contreras finished with three hits and three RBIs, including two particularly important contributions. His fifth-inning home run tied the game before his sixth-inning single brought home the go-ahead run.
WILLIAM CONTRERAS, TIE GAME 💥 https://t.co/TGRX9LxhEU
— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2026
The Brewers eventually pulled away for a three-run victory. Christian Yelich added two RBIs as Milwaukee finished with 12 hits. The performance was especially impressive considering the opponent.
Los Angeles started Yoshinobu Yamamoto, one of baseball’s most accomplished postseason pitchers. However, Yamamoto lasted only 2 2/3 innings and surrendered three runs.
Milwaukee continued applying pressure after his departure. The Brewers also demonstrated their ability to recover from mistakes, overcoming early defensive problems and refusing to allow the Dodgers to seize control.
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Milwaukee bullpen delivers the knockout punch
The most remarkable part of Monday’s victory came after the Brewers turned to their bullpen. Dustin May, JoJo Romero, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby combined to retire the final 15 Los Angeles hitters in order.
That meant the Dodgers failed to produce a baserunner over the final five innings. Against a lineup featuring some of baseball’s biggest names, Milwaukee’s relievers were nearly flawless. The performance allowed the Brewers to protect their advantage without giving Los Angeles an opportunity to mount another comeback.
Now the Dodgers return home facing a substantial challenge.
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday in Los Angeles, where Blake Snell is expected to start for the defending champions. Los Angeles has overcome a 2-0 NLCS deficit before, most recently against Atlanta in 2020.
However, history offers no guarantee of another comeback. Milwaukee has won the first two games and needs only two more victories to reach the World Series.
The Dodgers still have enough talent to reverse the series. But after Monday’s result, their margin for error has nearly disappeared.
