Brice Turang homered and Luis Lara delivered the go-ahead hit as Milwaukee’s bullpen held off Los Angeles in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at American Family Field, taking a 1-0 lead in the National League Championship Series. Brice Turang hit a game-tying home run, Luis Lara delivered the winning run, and Milwaukee’s bullpen protected the narrow advantage against the defending World Series champions.
The victory gave Milwaukee an early advantage in a rematch of the 2025 NLCS, when Los Angeles swept the Brewers in four games. This time, the Brewers opened the best-of-seven series at home after finishing the regular season with a major league-best 103 victories.
The Dodgers entered the postseason seeking their third consecutive World Series championship. They finished the regular season 100-62 and advanced to another NLCS after eliminating the Atlanta Braves in four games.
Milwaukee also needed four games to win its National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Both teams completed their previous series on October 7, giving their starting pitchers several days of rest before Sunday’s matchup.
The opening game featured two of baseball’s most effective starting pitchers: Los Angeles left-hander Tarik Skubal and Milwaukee right-hander Jacob Misiorowski.
Skubal joined the Dodgers in a midseason trade after winning consecutive American League Cy Young Awards in 2024 and 2025. His arrival strengthened a rotation already featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.
Misiorowski entered the series as a leading candidate for the 2026 National League Cy Young Award. The hard-throwing right-hander finished the regular season with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts, establishing himself as one of the league’s most difficult pitchers to hit.
MLB.com described the matchup as historically unusual because both starters ranked among baseball’s top pitchers entering the postseason. The pairing created considerable anticipation, although neither starter lasted beyond the fifth inning.
Los Angeles threatened first, putting Misiorowski under pressure in the second inning. Shohei Ohtani opened the inning with a walk, and Teoscar Hernández followed with a single.
After Max Muncy struck out, Andy Pages delivered a run-scoring single to right field, bringing Ohtani home and giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers had an opportunity to increase their advantage but failed to capitalize. Enrique Hernández grounded into a double play, ending the inning and allowing Misiorowski to escape without further damage.
That missed opportunity became important as the game progressed. Los Angeles continued making contact and extending at-bats but struggled to produce another run.
Milwaukee responded in the bottom of the fourth inning when Turang hit a solo home run off Skubal. The blast tied the game 1-1 and energized the home crowd after the Dodgers had controlled the early scoring.
The Brewers took the lead in the fifth inning through a more traditional approach. Garrett Mitchell reached base and advanced into scoring position before Lara delivered a run-scoring single.
Lara’s hit gave Milwaukee a 2-1 advantage that held for the remainder of the game.
Skubal completed five innings, allowing two runs while striking out seven. He threw 94 pitches before leaving with Los Angeles trailing.
Although Skubal limited the damage, the Dodgers could not produce enough offense to overcome Milwaukee’s pitching staff.
Misiorowski also endured a demanding outing. He allowed five hits and three walks across 4⅓ innings, but Los Angeles managed only one run against him.
The Dodgers’ patient approach forced the Milwaukee starter into lengthy at-bats and elevated his pitch count. However, their inability to convert scoring opportunities prevented them from building a larger early lead.
Milwaukee’s relief pitchers then delivered the performance that ultimately decided the game.
DL Hall, Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill combined for 4⅔ scoreless innings. Their work prevented Los Angeles from turning its additional scoring opportunities into a comeback.
Megill closed the game despite late pressure in the ninth inning, preserving the one-run victory and giving Milwaukee its first lead in an NLCS against Los Angeles since the teams met in 2018.
The Dodgers also hurt their chances by grounding into three double plays. Those defensive escapes helped Milwaukee survive innings in which Los Angeles appeared capable of breaking the game open.
The victory reinforced the importance of Milwaukee’s bullpen, which entered the series after a strong performance against San Diego.
During the Division Series, Milwaukee eliminated the Padres with a 3-1 victory in Game 4. Jackson Chourio delivered a crucial hit in that contest, while Garrett Mitchell made an important defensive play that prevented a potential game-tying home run.
The Brewers’ postseason success has depended on contributions throughout the roster rather than one offensive star. Players including Chourio, William Contreras, Christian Yelich and Turang have helped the team combine timely hitting with dependable pitching.
Sunday’s lineup also reflected the importance of individual matchups.
Manager Pat Murphy did not include Yelich in the starting lineup against Skubal. Instead, Andrew Vaughn served as designated hitter because of his stronger numbers against left-handed pitchers.
Reuters reported that Vaughn entered the contest with a .336 batting average against left-handers during the regular season. Yelich, meanwhile, had batted .212 against left-handed pitching in 2026.
The decision illustrated how Milwaukee approached the opening game against one of baseball’s leading pitchers. Murphy prioritized the matchup rather than automatically starting one of the club’s most recognizable hitters.
For Los Angeles, the defeat raised familiar postseason questions about producing runs against effective pitching.
The Dodgers have a lineup featuring Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Ohtani and several other established hitters. Their ability to create scoring chances was evident Sunday, but the final result showed the importance of converting those opportunities.
Los Angeles also entered the series with injury concerns. Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas has been dealing with a back injury, while the team has managed other health issues affecting its pitching and position-player depth.
Despite the opening loss, the Dodgers remain well positioned to compete in a lengthy series. Their rotation depth gives them several potential advantages if the NLCS extends beyond the early games.
Milwaukee, however, has demonstrated that it can compete with Los Angeles despite the Dodgers’ substantial payroll and roster of established stars.
The Brewers finished three victories ahead of Los Angeles during the regular season and earned home-field advantage for the NLCS. They are pursuing their first World Series appearance since 1982 and their first championship in franchise history.
Their motivation also includes last year’s postseason disappointment. In the 2025 NLCS, the Dodgers won four consecutive games and prevented Milwaukee from reaching the World Series.
Sunday’s victory does not erase that defeat, but it gives the Brewers an opportunity to change the outcome of this year’s rematch.
The next game is scheduled for Monday, October 12, at 5 p.m. Eastern at American Family Field. Los Angeles is expected to start Yoshinobu Yamamoto against Milwaukee’s Logan Henderson.
A Milwaukee victory would give the Brewers a 2-0 lead before the series moves to Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles can even the series with a win and avoid returning home facing two losses.
For now, Milwaukee holds the early advantage after a game decided by timely hitting, defensive execution and 4⅔ scoreless innings from its bullpen.
IMAGE: Chase Anderson before the Milwaukee Brewers play the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 4, 2017. Photo: Willsome429 / Wikimedia, taken 2017-06-04, CC BY-SA 4.0