When Los Angeles Dodgers slipped past the Milwaukee Brewers 2–1 in Game 1 of the National League Championship SeriesAmerican Family Field, the baseball world got a taste of something no one had seen before: an 8–6–2 double play in the postseason.
The game unfolded on Monday, October 13, 2025, under a sky that looked almost as tense as the dugout chatter. The ceremonial first pitch was tossed by Hall of Famer Robin Yount, while former MVP Ryan Braun stood beside him, reminding everyone why Milwaukee’s baseball heritage runs deep. Inside the stadium, the atmosphere crackled—fans in navy and blue clutching foam fingers, the hum of anticipation palpable.
Game Overview: A Tight Contest from the First Pitch
From the outset, both managers played a chess match. Pat Murphy (49) leaned on his bullpen, while the 30‑year‑old Dave Roberts trusted his rotation’s ace. Dodgers right‑hander Blake Snell struck out the side in the first two innings, setting a tone of dominance that the Brewers struggled to match.
Milwaukee’s early offense was limited to a lone hit through four innings, but an electrifying ninth‑ inning surge—two singles and a sacrifice fly—brought the score within a run. It wasn’t enough. Snell, who logged six strikeouts in five innings, sealed the win with a clean fifth, tossing a perfect slider to fielder‑positioned Aaron Ashby.
The Historic 8-6-2 Double Play
Everything changed in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy launched a 104 mph fly ball to center. The ball’s projected distance—404 feet—would have cleared the fence at eight other parks, let alone the modest dimensions of Milwaukee.
Enter Sal Frelick. He sprinted, leapt, and the ball struck his glove, ricocheted off the wall, and then fell back into his hand. Dodgers runners, convinced the ball was caught, tagged up. Frelick, seeing Teoscar Hernandez attempting to retreat to third, whizzed the ball to shortstop Joey Ortiz. Ortiz’s laser‑accurate throw found catcher William Contreras, who tagged Hernandez at home.
The official scorer logged it as a fielder’s choice groundout, but the play qualified as an 8‑6‑2 double play—a rarity in any context, and the first ever in postseason history, according to Elias Sports Bureau data.
Statcast recorded the play as the second‑longest ball ever resulting in a double play since 2015. Had the ball cleared the wall, the Dodgers’ win probability would have sat at an 88 % perch. After the double play, the Brewers saw that number dip to 56 %, flipping the momentum in a blink.
Pitching Duel and Key Moments
- Blake Snell – 5 innings, 2 runs, 6 K; batters ± .250.
- Aaron Ashby (Brew) – 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 run.
- Chad Patrick (Brew rel) – relieved in the seventh, gave up a solo homer.
- Mookie Betts (Dodgers) – made two clutch defensive plays in the outfield.
- Freddie Freeman (Dodgers) – drove in the first run with a ground‑out RBI.
The Dodgers’ runs arrived on a second‑inning single by Freeman that slid home on a throwing error, and a fifth‑inning sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts that crossed the plate cleanly. Both scored off early‑inning pressure, leaving the Brewers to chase a one‑run deficit for the rest of the night.
Reactions: Managers, Players, and Fans
Pat Murphy, still grinning despite the loss, said, "It’s very unusual. It’s tough for the baserunner to figure out what happened. But it’s one of those plays in baseball, we got very fortunate there. Great defense on our guys — Sal and Contreras were heads‑up."
Dave Roberts praised Snell’s composure: "Blake gave us the chance to win early, and we stuck with it. The play was a crazy moment, but we kept our heads."
Frelick, after reviewing the replay, admitted, "I didn’t really know what happened. I really had no clue until the next inning when the broadcast showed the replay." Muncy was equally puzzled, noting, "I’m still kind of confused as to what all went down. It’s definitely the worst fielder’s choice double play I’ve ever hit into."
What This Means for the Series
The Dodgers now lead the best‑of‑seven series 1–0. The victory puts them in a position to dictate the pace, but the Brewers have shown they can produce fireworks under pressure. The next day’s Game 2 will test whether Milwaukee can bounce back or whether Los Angeles will tighten the leash.
Analysts project a shift in win probability back toward the Dodgers if they hold the lead into the seventh inning of the next game. However, the historic double play could haunt the Brewers’ bullpen decisions and the timing of aggressive baserunning.
Key Facts
- Date: October 13, 2025
- Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
- Final Score: Dodgers 2, Brewers 1
- Historic 8‑6‑2 double play – first in MLB postseason history
- Winning pitcher: Blake Snell
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the 8-6-2 double play affect the Brewers' chances in the series?
The play swung win probability from about 88 % in the Dodgers' favor to roughly 56 % for Milwaukee, giving the Brewers a realistic chance to stay competitive. It also boosts the team’s confidence in their outfield defense, which could influence managerial decisions on aggressiveness in later games.
What led to the double play being possible?
Max Muncy’s deep fly ball hit the wall and bounced back into Sal Frelick’s glove. The runners, assuming a caught fly, hesitated. Frelick’s quick throw to shortstop Joey Ortiz, followed by a perfect relay to catcher William Contreras, caught the baserunners off‑guard, resulting in a double play that defied conventional scoring.
Who were the standout performers in Game 1?
Blake Snell’s five strong innings with six strikeouts earned the win for the Dodgers. For the Brewers, Sal Frelick’s defensive heroics and William Contreras’s clutch tag at home were the highlights, while Pat Murphy’s managerial choices kept the game close.
When and where is Game 2 scheduled?
Game 2 kicks off on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern (7:00 PM Central, 5:00 PM Pacific). It will be broadcast on TBS, truTV, and HBO Max from the same venue—American Family Field.
What historical precedent exists for such an unusual double play?
While 8‑6‑2 double plays have occurred in regular‑season games, none had ever been recorded in the postseason prior to this October 13 incident, according to the Elias Sports Bureau and Statcast archives dating back to 2015.
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