Brewers defeat Dodgers 6-2 in NLCS Game 3 after Snell's seventh-inning collapse

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday, taking a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The victory was sealed by a seventh-inning collapse by Dodgers starter Blake Snell, who allowed back-to-back home runs after holding a 2-1 lead.

Snell’s Seventh-Inning Meltdown

Blake Snell had a dominant start for the Dodgers, retiring 18 of his next 20 batters after allowing a leadoff home run to Jackson Chourio on the first pitch of the game. However, the game turned in the seventh inning when Snell walked Andrew Vaughn, ending his streak of 14 consecutive batters retired.

Jake Bauers then entered the at-bat and extended the count to 11 pitches. After fouling off five two-strike offerings, Snell left a fastball down the middle. Bauers hit a two-run home run, which MLB.com reported was a Statcast-projected 412 feet to right field. Garrett Mitchell followed with another home run two pitches later, giving the Brewers a 4-2 lead and ending Snell’s night.

According to MLB.com, this was the sixth home run on the 11th pitch of an at-bat or later in the postseason since pitch-count tracking began in 1988. It also marked the third set of back-to-back postseason home runs in Brewers franchise history.

Dodgers’ Offensive Struggles

The Dodgers had taken a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Will Smith hit a two-run double with the bases loaded. Smith snapped a 1-for-25 playoff drought with the hit. However, the Dodgers failed to capitalize further, leaving eight runners on base and finishing 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position in the game.

Shohei Ohtani, who was moved to the No. 6 spot in the batting order, went 1-for-2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. He also recorded a 113.5 mph single in the eighth inning. Despite these contributions, the Dodgers’ offense struggled to sustain momentum against the Brewers’ bullpen.

Series Implications

The loss places the Dodgers in a 3-0 deficit in the NLCS. According to the New York Post, only one team in MLB history has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit in a seven-game series. The Brewers’ bullpen, including DL Hall, played a crucial role in preserving the lead. Hall retired the side in the sixth inning on 10 pitches and collected five more outs in the seventh and eighth innings to earn the winning decision.

Why it matters

The Brewers’ victory puts them one win away from the World Series, while the Dodgers face a historic challenge to force a Game 4. Snell’s performance, which shifted from dominant to disastrous in a single inning, highlights the volatility of postseason baseball. The Dodgers’ inability to convert scoring opportunities, evidenced by their 3-for-32 record with runners in scoring position this postseason, remains a critical issue as they attempt to avoid elimination.

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Sources

• nypost.com: Blake Snell goes from hero to zero in Dodgers Game 3 loss to Brewers
• sportsnet.ca: Watch Bauers’ 11-pitch at-bat before pivotal home run for Brewers
• mlb.com: Jake Bauers hits go-ahead HR off Blake Snell in 11-pitch at bat in NLCS Game 3

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.