Author: Andy Lane Chapman

The last time the Dodgers faced Brewers’ righty Jhoulys Chacin, they teed off on him, en route to 21-5 win. But on the 30th Anniversary of Kirk Gibson‘s World Series Game One heroics, there were no theatrics to be found.

Walker Buehler started the game with a strikeout of Lorenzo Cain, but allowed a subsequent walk to Christian Yelich, which was cashed in on a double by Ryan Braun. Buehler rebounded nicely, though, by striking out Travis Shaw and Jesus Aguilar.

Dodgers got something brewing in the second. Manny Machado singles, and Cody Bellinger hits into what might’ve been a double-play but Machado slid hard, (and high, according to the Brewers), breaking up the play. Yasiel Puig finally got his first hit of the postseason with a double, putting runners at second and third with one out. Yasmani Grandal, still having a rough time at the plate, struck out. The Brewers walked Kiké Hernandez to bring Buehler to the plate. It worked, as Buehler struck out looking.

Los Angeles tried to get something going again in the bottom of the fourth, when Machado walked to start the inning. Bellinger, as in the inning before, hit into a fielder’s choice. And once again, Machado made a suspect slide into second. This time, it was reviewed and both he and Bellinger were called out. Puig hit a liner hard, but right at the third baseman and the Dodgers got nothing across the plate.

Grandal finally broke through with a leadoff double in the bottom of the fifth, but was left stranded at second base. A questionable strike call that should’ve been a walk led to Joc Pederson flying out to center to end the inning.

Buehler was still throwing well, until two out in the top of the sixth when Bellinger misplayed a fly ball off the bat of Travis Shaw, allowing him to get to third, and then score on a wild pitch.

Once again in the sixth, the Dodgers got a runner to second in the form of Justin Turner. An error by Mike Moustakas allowed JT to get to second, and it chased Chacín from the game. Corey Knebel came in to relieve him, and got the next two batters to end the inning.

Dave Roberts opted to stay with Buehler in the top of the seventh, and the plan didn’t pan out. He allowed a one-out double to Erik Kratz, and a two run homer to Orlando Arcia for a 4-0 lead. The Dodgers responded by striking out in order in the bottom of the seventh.

The Brewers threatened again in the top of the ninth against Dylan Floro, but the inning ended on a strike-em-out, throw-em-out play to second.

The Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but again it was not meant to be. The Dodgers failed to score and lost 4-0. Whether Roberts should’ve left Bueheler in the game is up for debate, but it doesn’t much matter when the offense couldn’t score a single run. Overall, the Dodgers were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Game 4 will see Rich Hill face off against Gio Gonzalez for Milwaukee on Tuesday, 6:09 PST.

The narrative for the NLCS before the game was the Brewers pitching matchups against the Dodgers‘ ability to use their bench. However, it ultimately boiled down to errors on the side of the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw failing to go deep into a playoff game again.

After a leadoff single to Lorenzo Cain, who then advanced to second on a passed ball by Yasmani Grandal, Kershaw battled through a 10-pitch strikeout to Yelich, and retired the next two batters on grounders to short.

Manny Machado led off the bottom of the second with a home run, a laser to left center field that just cleared the wall. It was his second this season off a curveball, and his hardest hit ever, 116 MPH off the bat.

Starter Gio Gonzalez lasted all of two innings, allowing the homer to Machado and a walk to Kiké Hernandez. RHP Brandon Woodruff replaced him in the top of the third. He retired the side, and then promptly hit a 407 foot homer in the bottom of the third off Kershaw to tie the game at one.

Grandal had a horrid night behind the plate. Cain followed with a single, and Kershaw walked Yelich. A second passed ball allowed the runners to move to second and third, and a catcher’s interference negated an amazing catch by David Freese for what would’ve been the second out of the inning. Kershaw then induced a sac fly by Hernan Perez, and Grandal missed the throw from center allowing the runners to advance. Kershaw struck out Mike Moustakis to end the inning.

Woodruff countered by striking out the side, including Roberts’ first countermove of the evening, replacing Freese with Max Muncy.

After a leadoff walk and a misplayed ball in left field by Chris Taylor, the Brewers had runners at second and third with no outs, and 73 pitches though 3.0 innings. Kershaw allowed a two run single to Domingo Santana, and Kershaw’s night was done.

Ryan Madson entered the game with a runner on first. He induced a fly out to Cain, and struck out Yelich. After a stolen base by Santana, Madson allowed a single to Braun scoring Santana, and taking the score to 5-1.

Josh Hader, reliever extraordinaire, came in the top of the fifth, and promptly retired the side on nine pitches. He pitched three scoreless innings, presumably leaving him out of the bullpen mix for Game 2.

Julio Urías, added to the bullpen in place of Scott Alexander, who is presumed to be injured, surrendered an opposite field home run to Jesús Aguilar.

The Dodgers showed signs of life in the top of the eighth, plating three runs on a two run single by Machado and an RBI single by Matt Kemp, bringing the score to 6-4.

The Dodgers somehow managed to hold Yelich 0-for-4 for the game, the only slot in the lineup that didn’t have a hit. Cain, for his part, reached all four times.

The Dodgers rallied in the ninth, getting one more run across the plate, but ultimately fell short. But good things were to be gained from this game. They got to the bullpen, and Hader should not be available in Game 2. If the Dodgers play clean baseball defensively, they may have won this game.

Game 2 will be Saturday at 1:09 pacific time, when the Brewers will send Wade Miley to the mound to face off against Walker Buehler.