Brewers complete NLCS sweep with 6-4 comeback over Dodgers

The Milwaukee Brewers officially ended the Los Angeles Dodgers' dynasty by completing a four-game sweep of the National League Championship Series. In a decisive 6-4 victory in Game 4, Milwaukee overcame a 4-0 deficit to advance to their second World Series appearance since 1982. The Dodgers, who had won the championship in 2024 and 2025, were eliminated after a season where they won 103 regular-season games.

The series unfolded as a stark contrast to pre-season expectations. Despite the Dodgers' deep roster and high payroll, Milwaukee held a commanding 3-0 lead entering the final game. The Brewers' path to the lead was marked by exceptional bullpen performance and opportunistic hitting. In Game 1, Milwaukee beat Tarik Skubal 2-1. In Game 2, they went 6-14 with runners in scoring position without recording a single hard-hit ball. Game 3 saw Milwaukee score five consecutive runs after falling behind entering the seventh inning to secure a 6-2 win.

Game 4 initially favored Los Angeles. Against starter Shane Drohan, the Dodgers built a quick lead. Kyle Tucker led off with a single, forcing Brewers manager Pat Murphy to bring in Dustin May. Teoscar Hernandez advanced Tucker to third on a single, and Andy Pages added a single up the middle to make it 1-0. The decisive blow came from Shohei Ohtani, who had not driven in a run or hit a home run in nearly two months of postseason play. Ohtani destroyed a 1-1 pitch at 113 mph for a 428-foot home run, extending the Dodgers' lead to 4-0.

Milwaukee's response began in the fourth inning when Brice Turang drew a one-out walk and William Contreras hit a ground-rule double to left field. Jake Bauers followed with another ground-rule double to right field. In the fifth inning, Sal Frelick worked a walk and stole second base. David Hamilton then drove Frelick in with a single, raising his postseason batting average to .500. Relievers Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia walked three straight Brewers hitters to tie the game at 4-4.

The Brewers' bullpen immediately reasserted control. JoJo Romero struck out Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman in order on just 12 pitches in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth, Garrett Mitchell hit a home run off left-handed reliever Tanner Scott. This was Mitchell's second home run off Scott in back-to-back nights, erasing the Dodgers' four-run deficit.

Los Angeles failed to capitalize on subsequent opportunities. The Dodgers went hitless with runners in scoring position in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. In the seventh, Andy Pages doubled off Aaron Ashby and was bunted to third, but Ohtani struck out and Betts grounded out to shortstop. In the eighth, Will Smith doubled and advanced to third on an error by Sal Frelick, but Kyle Tucker popped up to center field and Teoscar Hernandez struck out. The Dodgers finished the series 2-11 with runners in scoring position.

David Hamilton provided the winning blow in the ninth inning with a home run off Edwin Diaz. The Brewers' bullpen allowed just two runs in nearly 40 postseason innings, significantly improving upon their regular-season ERA of 3.40. Aaron Ashby recorded the final out by catching hard-hit balls from Tommy Edman and Kike Hernandez.

Milwaukee will now face the winner of the Guardians-Rays series in the World Series. The Dodgers enter the offseason with the task of addressing their roster following their elimination.