Contreras and Turang Power Brewers Past Dodgers in Game 2
The Milwaukee Brewers seized a commanding 2-0 advantage in the National League Championship Series on Sunday, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-4 at American Family Field. The victory, secured on October 12, 2026, was driven by a balanced offensive attack and a dominant relief effort that erased early defensive lapses.
William Contreras provided the offensive backbone for Milwaukee, driving in three runs and extending his legacy within the organization. His performance included a solo home run in the fifth inning that tied the game at 4-4, followed by a crucial single in the sixth that gave the Brewers a 5-4 lead. The homer marked Contreras's fifth career playoff home run, tying him with Jackson Chourio for the most playoff home runs in franchise history.
Teoscar Hernandez opened the scoring for Los Angeles in the first inning with a sacrifice fly. Contreras responded by tying the game at 1-1 with a single later in the frame. The Dodgers regained the lead in the third inning, capitalizing on defensive struggles by Milwaukee starter Logan Henderson. A wild throw by Henderson allowed a run to score, followed immediately by another throwing error that permitted Kyle Tucker to cross home plate, pushing the Dodgers ahead 2-1.
Henderson’s outing was short-lived and fraught with difficulty. He pitched four innings but allowed four runs, only two of which were earned, while committing two errors on the field. He was replaced by JoJo Romero in the fifth inning after the damage had already been done.
Bullpen Erases Deficit as Dodgers’ Starter Exits Early
While Henderson struggled with his defense, Los Angeles starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto faced his own challenges. Yamamoto was removed from the game after reaching 75 pitches. His exit came shortly after Freddie Freeman scored on a sacrifice fly, making the score 4-3 and keeping the Dodgers in front despite the Brewers' rally.
The turning point of the game arrived when the Brewers’ bullpen took over. JoJo Romero, joined by Dustin May, Abner Uribe, and Aaron Ashby, pitched five hitless innings to stabilize the game. The relief corps allowed no runs, no walks, and struck out seven batters during their tenure.
Contreras’s fifth-inning home run tied the game at 4-4, breaking Yamamoto’s hold on the lead. His sixth-inning single restored Milwaukee’s advantage at 5-4. The Brewers added insurance runs in the eighth inning when Brice Turang and Jake Bauers each recorded singles, extending the lead to 7-4 and effectively sealing the victory.
Series Shifts to Los Angeles
The win gives Milwaukee a two-game lead in the best-of-seven series. The Dodgers will now host the next two games of the NLCS starting Wednesday, attempting to avoid elimination on their home field. The Brewers’ ability to overcome early defensive errors and rely on their bullpen for five scoreless innings proved critical in securing the series advantage.