The Dodgers took an early four-run lead behind Ohtani’s three-run homer, but Milwaukee rallied to win Game 4 and advance to its first World Series since 1982.
Shohei Ohtani delivered his first home run in nearly two months, but the Los Angeles Dodgers could not protect an early four-run lead Thursday night. The Milwaukee Brewers rallied for a 6-4 victory in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, completing a four-game sweep and ending the Dodgers’ hopes of winning a third consecutive World Series.
The October 15 defeat at Dodger Stadium brought a disappointing end to Los Angeles’ postseason. Milwaukee advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1982, overcoming an early deficit with timely hitting and another strong performance from its bullpen.
Ohtani briefly gave the home crowd reason to believe the Dodgers could extend the series. His three-run homer in the second inning put Los Angeles ahead 4-0 and ended a career-long stretch without a home run.
However, the Brewers scored six unanswered runs, with Garrett Mitchell delivering the go-ahead homer in the sixth inning. David Hamilton added another home run in the ninth, helping Milwaukee secure the National League pennant.
Ohtani Breaks Home Run Drought With Powerful Swing
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved Ohtani back into the leadoff position for Game 4, hoping the adjustment would revive an offense that had struggled throughout the series.
The Japanese superstar had been dealing with right biceps and left knee injuries for several months. His offensive production had declined sharply, and he entered the elimination game without a postseason extra-base hit.
Ohtani had not homered since August 18, a drought spanning 25 games. His struggles had become especially noticeable during the playoffs, when the Dodgers needed production from their most dangerous hitter.
The lineup change did not produce an immediate breakthrough in the first inning. However, Ohtani delivered when Los Angeles put together a scoring opportunity in the second.
Andy Pages started the scoring with an RBI single, giving the Dodgers their first lead of the evening.
With two runners aboard and two outs, Ohtani faced former Dodgers pitcher Dustin May, who had replaced Milwaukee opener Shane Drohan.
May threw a cutter toward the inside portion of the strike zone. Ohtani connected and launched the ball 428 feet into the right-center-field seats.
The home run left his bat at 113.1 mph, according to Statcast, making it one of his hardest-hit balls of the season.
Ohtani celebrated emphatically as the ball disappeared into the stands. He turned toward the Dodgers dugout, raised his arms and shouted before beginning his trip around the bases.
The three-run shot gave Los Angeles a 4-0 lead and produced the team’s highest-scoring inning of the postseason.
It was also the Dodgers’ first home run of the series, finally providing the powerful offensive moment that had been missing through the opening three games.
Brewers Rally Against Tyler Glasnow
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow initially appeared capable of protecting the four-run advantage.
Glasnow retired the first 10 Milwaukee batters he faced, keeping the Brewers off the bases through three perfect innings.
However, Milwaukee began its comeback in the fourth when Brice Turang drew a walk. William Contreras followed with a ground-rule double, putting two runners in scoring position.
Jake Bauers then delivered another ground-rule double, driving in both runners and cutting the Dodgers’ lead to 4-2.
The Brewers continued applying pressure, forcing Glasnow to work through increasingly difficult situations.
Milwaukee added another run in the fifth inning when David Hamilton singled home Sal Frelick. The rally brought an end to Glasnow’s outing and forced Roberts to turn to his bullpen.
Alex Vesia entered with the bases loaded but walked Bauers on four pitches, forcing home the tying run.
The sequence erased Los Angeles’ entire early advantage and shifted momentum toward Milwaukee.
The Brewers had entered Game 4 with a commanding 3-0 series lead, having won each of the first three games despite trailing at some point in every contest.
Their latest comeback followed the same pattern. Milwaukee absorbed the Dodgers’ strongest offensive inning of the series and steadily worked its way back into the game.
Garrett Mitchell Delivers Winning Home Run
The decisive moment arrived in the sixth inning when Garrett Mitchell faced Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott.
Mitchell drove a pitch over the fence for a solo home run, giving Milwaukee its first lead of the game at 5-4.
The homer completed a five-run turnaround after the Brewers had fallen behind by four runs in the second inning.
Los Angeles still had opportunities to respond, but its offense could not produce another run.
Ohtani returned to the plate in the seventh inning with a runner on third base and one out. A productive at-bat could have tied the game, but he struck out.
Kyle Tucker encountered another important opportunity in the eighth inning and was also unable to bring home the tying run.
The missed chances continued a postseason pattern in which the Dodgers struggled to produce hits with runners in scoring position.
Milwaukee’s relief pitchers kept Los Angeles scoreless over the final seven innings, preventing the Dodgers from building on their early breakthrough.
The Brewers added an insurance run in the ninth when Hamilton hit a solo homer, extending their lead to 6-4.
Reliever Aaron Ashby completed the victory with three scoreless innings, securing the final outs and sending Milwaukee’s players onto the field in celebration.
Ashby’s performance capped a dominant bullpen effort that had repeatedly frustrated Los Angeles throughout the series.
Jake Bauers Named NLCS Most Valuable Player
Although Mitchell delivered the winning homer in Game 4, Jake Bauers played a major role in Milwaukee’s series victory.
Bauers drove in three runs during the deciding game, including two on his fourth-inning double and another with his bases-loaded walk in the fifth.
He finished the four-game series with six RBIs and was named the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player.
His production reflected Milwaukee’s balanced offensive approach, which allowed the Brewers to overcome deficits without relying on one superstar.
Manager Pat Murphy praised his team’s determination after the victory, emphasizing the players’ willingness to compete through difficult stretches.
The sweep also carried historical significance. The Dodgers had eliminated Milwaukee in four games during the 2025 NLCS on their way to another championship.
One year later, the Brewers reversed that result by sweeping the same opponent.
According to Major League Baseball, Milwaukee became the first team to sweep an opponent in the postseason one year after being swept by that same opponent.
The Brewers also secured their first National League pennant. Their previous World Series appearance came in 1982, when the franchise competed in the American League.
Dodgers’ Third Straight Championship Bid Ends
The defeat ended Los Angeles’ attempt to become the first National League team to win three consecutive World Series championships.
The Dodgers entered the 2026 season as defending back-to-back champions after winning the title in both 2024 and 2025.
Despite their experienced roster and considerable expectations, they could not overcome Milwaukee’s pitching depth and consistent offensive production.
The Dodgers briefly led in all four NLCS games but failed to win any of them.
Their inability to deliver timely hits became a defining problem. Los Angeles finished the series with five hits in 43 at-bats with runners in scoring position, a batting average of just .116.
Ohtani’s second-inning homer offered a glimpse of the offensive force that had helped power the team’s previous championship runs. However, he finished Game 4 with one hit in four at-bats and three strikeouts.
The injuries affecting his performance throughout the second half of the season also complicated the Dodgers’ postseason plans.
Roberts had hoped that moving Ohtani back to the top of the batting order would provide a spark. The strategy briefly worked, but the Dodgers were unable to sustain their momentum.
The loss leaves Los Angeles facing an offseason of difficult decisions about its roster, health and ability to maintain its championship standard.
Milwaukee Advances to World Series
For Milwaukee, the victory completed one of the franchise’s most memorable postseason achievements.
The Brewers entered the series determined to reverse their defeat against Los Angeles the previous October. They accomplished that goal without allowing the Dodgers to win a game.
Their success was built on timely home runs, disciplined plate appearances and relief pitching that repeatedly protected narrow advantages.
Milwaukee will face the winner of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays.
The 2026 World Series is scheduled to begin Friday, October 23.
For the Dodgers, Ohtani’s long-awaited home run provided one final highlight in a postseason marked by offensive frustration. His powerful swing briefly revived hopes of an unlikely series comeback.
But Milwaukee answered with six consecutive runs, and the Dodgers could not respond. The Brewers now move on to the World Series, while Los Angeles begins preparing for 2027 after its championship streak ended four victories short of another Fall Classic appearance.
IMAGE: Dodgers Source Dodgers at Nationals Author All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA CC2