Brewers Shut Out Dodgers in NLCS Game 3

The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Monday night. The teams came into the game with the series tied at 1-1. As has been the case with many of the teams to face Milwaukee through late September and early October, it appeared the Dodgers forgot how to play baseball, with one error by INF Manny Machado, one wild pitch by SP Walker Buehler and one passed ball by C Yasmani Grandal (his third of the postseason), and the offense going 0-10 with runners in scoring position, leaving eight men on base.

Brewers 4, Dodgers 0

W: Chacín; L: Buehler

Player of the Game: Corey Knebel (Hold, 1.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 SO)

Dodgers SP Walker Buehler was sharp through his first five innings, only allowing one run in the top of the 1st, but had trouble during his final two innings of work, allowing one run in the 6th and 2 in the 7th. His line for the night was 4 runs on 5 hits in 7.0 IP with 1 BB and 8 SO. His Milwaukee counterpart Jhoulys Chacín did not work as deep into the game, but pitched well enough to earn the victory, allowing no runs on 3 hits in 5.1 IP with 2 BB and 6 SO.

In the top of the 1st, Milwaukee opened the scoring with an RBI double by OF Ryan Braun to drive in OF Christian Yelich. There were no further scoring plays until the top of the 6th, when INF Travis Shaw scored on a wild pitch by Buehler.

Milwaukee SP Chacín was relieved by Corey Knebel in the bottom of the 6th, taking over after INF Justin Turner reached and advanced to second base with one out in the inning on a throwing error by Milwaukee INF Mike Moustakas. Knebel ended the scoring threat by inducing a groundout by Machado and striking out OF Cody Bellinger, and he went on to pitch a scoreless bottom of the 7th, striking out the side. This hold helped keep the game momentum in Milwaukee’s favor. The Crew increased their advantage in the top of the 7th when light-hitting INF Orlando Arcía, who hit just three home runs during the entire regular season, hit a 2-run bomb off Buehler to drive in C Erik Kratz, his second of the postseason.

The Dodgers were able to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 9th after loading the bases with one out, but Milwaukee closer Jeremy Jeffress struck out Grandal and PH Brian Dozier to end the game.

The Dodgers will look to even the series up yet again on Tuesday night in NLCS Game 4, starting at 9:09 PM ET. Probable starters: González (MIL) – 4.21 ERA; Hill (LAD) – 3.66 ERA. The American League Championship series also resumes on Tuesday, with Game 3 opening at 5:09 PM ET in Houston. Probable starters: Eovaldi (BOS) – 3.81 ERA; Keuchel (HOU) – 3.74 ERA.