The LowDown (NLCS): Dodgers Continue Reign in the National League, Best Brewers in Seven

Game One:

[FRIDAY] The Dodgers play a very sloppy game of baseball with their ace on the mound, but manage to make it close in the late innings of the game, dropping game one of the National League Championship Series in Milwaukee.

Clayton Kershaw started the game for the Dodgers and was chased rather quickly, only tossing three innings. In his outing, Kershaw forfeited four earned runs on six hits and a pair of walks. The ace’s ledger was turned in with only two strikeouts to his credit. This was not what fans expected from Kershaw after throwing eight shutout innings against Atlanta in the Divisional Series only a week before.

The Dodgers’ bullpen was forced to work the team through the remaining innings of baseball, following Kershaw’s exit. Pitchers to be summoned from the bullpen, in order, were Ryan Madson, Dylan Floro, Pedro Baez, Julio Urias, and Kenta Maeda. The only run yielded by the Dodgers’ bullpen was given up by Urias, who served up a solo home run to Jesus Aguilar in the seventh inning.

The Dodgers jumped out to an early lead on a second inning home run by Manny Machado. However, following the solo blast, the Dodgers’ offense was ice cold until the eighth inning, where the Dodgers collected three runs. Machado and Matt Kemp each had an RBI single in the inning. The Dodgers’ night came to an end within one run of the Brewers after tacking on one more run in the ninth on a Chris Taylor RBI triple. The team left six runners on base in the loss.

Dodgers lose to the Brewers, 6-5. (Brewers lead NLCS, 1-0)

Player of the Game: Manny Machado

Game Two

[SATURDAY] The Dodgers mount a late-inning comeback against the Brewers, splitting Milwaukee’s starting home-field advantage by taking game two at Miller Park.

Hyun-Jin Ryu started the game for the Dodgers and worked through four and one third innings, giving up a pair of runs on six hits. Ryu also racked up four strikeouts in the game. Ryu was throwing a shutout through four innings before giving up a home run to Orlando Arcia in the fifth, which was followed by a ground-out RBI for Ryan Braun.

The bullpen went to work after Ryu exited partway through the fifth inning, with only one blemish; a solo home run by Travis Shaw in the sixth. The home run was dished up by Alex Wood. The rest of the relievers, Ryan Madson, Dylan Floro, Pedro Baez, Caleb Ferguson, Kenta Maeda, and Kenley Jansen, all tossed no-hit outings, allowing the Dodgers’ offense a chance to make the comeback that was made.

The Dodgers were unable to put any runs on the board until the seventh inning, when Jeremy Jeffress gave up an RBI single and walked in a run. In the eighth, Jeffress returned to the mound. Soon after, he gave up a two-run home run to Justin Turner, who struck out four times the night before. Turner’s two-run shot worked wonders as to energize a quiet and frustrated Dodgers’ fan-base.

The Dodgers defeat the Brewers, 4-3. (Dodgers tie NLCS, 1-1)

Player of the Game: Justin Turner

Game Three

[MONDAY] Walker Buehler pitched pretty well for the Dodgers, committing only a few mistakes after being picked apart by the Braves in the NLDS. However, with zero run support, those few mistakes cost the Dodgers the game.

Walker Buehler pitched seven innings in his game three appearance, giving up four runs on six hits and one walk. Buehler tossed one hundred pitches to Brewers hitters, striking out eight batters total. Buehler’s outing wasn’t stellar, but it wasn’t awful either. The worst of the shade on Buehler’s performance is rooted from the Dodgers’ offense providing him with zero help in run support.

Alex Wood and Dylan Floro followed Buehler for the remaining two innings, posting identical lines. Both Wood and Floro handled one inning, giving up one walk, one hit, and striking out one, respectively. Both relievers worked their way out of traffic and potential run-scoring situations, each allowing no runs to Milwaukee.

Putting it mildly, the Dodgers’ offense was dismal throughout this game. The Dodgers were shutout, managing to only put eight men on base. The opportunities to strike weren’t hard to come by either, as the team posted an atrocious 0 for 10 (.000) line with runners in scoring position. It was easy to tell that the fans weren’t in it, the plays weren’t working, and the dugout was fuming with frustration. In the post-game press conference, players openly admitted that the team’s effort on offense was pathetic and unacceptable, especially on the cusp of the Fall Classic.

Dodgers lose to the Brewers, 4-0. (Brewers lead NLCS, 2-1)

Player of the Game: Walker Buehler

Game Four

[TUESDAY] Rich Hill took the mound for the Dodgers in this pivotal game four, leading the charge in this five hour and fifteen minute marathon that would ultimately be decided by a Dodger who has been somewhat off his game this postseason.

Hill’s number was called to start off a crucial game four for the Dodgers, and Hill did not disappoint. Hill went five innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks, striking out six. The expertise that Hill possesses at veteran age bodes well for the Dodgers, who carry a handful of young pitchers who could most certainly learn from the strong game of Rich Hill.

The bullpen was forced to work overtime with the game being pushed into extra innings by a 1-1 tie after nine innings. The pitchers to be summoned from the ‘pen were Pedro Baez, Kenta Maeda, Caleb Ferguson, Ryan Madson, Kenley Jansen, Alex Wood, Dylan Floro, and Julio Urias. Most notably, Jansen held down the Brewers for two innings, rather than the traditional single inning from Jansen in the closer spot. He gave up only a hit and walk, striking out two in order to convert six outs for the Dodgers. Urias would earn the win, as he pitched a shutout inning in the thirteenth. The Dodgers managed to work fifteen strikeouts off of the Brewers in the thirteen innings played; nine converted by relievers.

The Dodgers’ offense was what put an end to the game in extras, and that’s surely a bright spot, but the offense evidently played to the tune of ‘lackluster’ in game four. Seventeen times was a Dodger sat down on strikes, leaving eleven runners on base. The only run driven in during regulatory innings was an a slicing line drive by Brian Dozier, scoring Chris Taylor from second. However, the biggest swing of the game was made by Cody Bellinger in the bottom of the thirteenth, scoring Manny Machado from second base and putting the Brewers and their 2-1 series lead to rest.

Dodgers defeat the Brewers, 2-1. (Dodgers tie NLCS, 2-2)

Player of the Game: Cody Bellinger

Game Five

[WEDNESDAY] Clayton Kershaw pitched a gem, forcefully silencing the postseason Kershaw doubters. The offensive showing put on by the Dodgers is a huge move to shift the momentum of this series, putting the Dodgers only one win away from returning to the World Series for a second consecutive season.

Kershaw turned in seven complete innings for the Dodgers, allowing only one run on three hits and a pair of walks. Kershaw appeared to be back to his MVP award-winning ways, striking out nine batters in his outing. This outing by Kershaw was monumental for the Dodgers’ confidence, showing that he can still play amazing baseball in October, despite what some writers and critics are led to believe.

The bullpen was left only two innings to handle before capping off a great all-around game for the Dodgers in this pivotal game five. Pedro Baez converted a perfect eighth inning, striking out one while allowing no offensive fire for the Brewers. Caleb Ferguson, Ryan Madson, and Kenley Jansen banded together to polish off this game in the ninth, each recording one out. Jansen’s single out was on a strikeout, earning him the save; his second of the postseason.

The offense was quiet for a good portion of the game, finally coming to life in the fifth inning and scoring in each of the next three innings. All four of the Dodgers’ RBI base hits came on singles, making for an NLCS homestand that featured no home runs for the Dodgers who hit the most homers of an National League team this season. Austin Barnes, Max Muncy, Yasiel Puig, Justin Turner, and Brian Dozier each had an RBI to their ledger; Dozier’s coming on a groundout. The Dodgers slugged a respectable 4 for 13 (.307) with runners in scoring position, leaving seven runners on base.

Dodgers defeat the Brewers, 5-2. (Dodgers lead NLCS, 3-2)

Player of the Game: Clayton Kershaw

Game Six

[FRIDAY] The Dodgers drop game six of the National League Championship Series, failing to win their third consecutive game in the series, and forcing a game seven in Milwaukee.

The ever-so calm and collective Hyun-Jin Ryu took the mound for the Dodgers in game six, looking to punch the Dodgers’ ticket to their second consecutive World Series. And while that sounded solid on paper, Ryu and the Dodgers learned yesterday why we play the games. Ryu yielded five runs to the Brewers in his three innings of work, giving up seven hits and a pair of walks. Ryu turned in three K’s on the final line, being taxed with the loss.

Julio Urias, Alex Wood, Dylan Floro, Caleb Ferguson, Kenta Maeda, and Rich Hill followed Ryu, in that order. The only blemish to the bullpen’s night was served up by Maeda, who gave up two runs on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Jesus Aguilar. This game would turn out to be the Brewers’ best offensive night against the Dodgers in the first six games of this series.

The offense was nearly nonexistent in this one, being powered by only the bat of David Freese, who was replaced in the fifth inning. Freese left the game with a solo home run and an RBI double, accounting for both of the Dodgers’ runs. The rest of the team combined for three hits. The Dodgers’ offense went 0 for 3 (.000) with runners in scoring position, leaving six men on base. The offense will have to improve during Saturday’s win-or-go-home game seven if the Dodgers aim to move on in the postseason.

The Dodgers lose to the Brewers, 7-2. (Brewers tie NLCS, 3-3)

Player of the Game: David Freese

Game Seven

[SATURDAY] The young gun, Walker Buehler, took duties as the Dodgers’ starter in a do-or-die game seven, on the doorstep of the Fall Classic. With some help from the long ball, Buehler earned the win and led the reigning National League Champion to their second NL Pennant in as many years.

Buehler hit a quick bump in the road versus Milwaukee, serving up a solo home run to the soon-to-be NL Most Valuable Player, Christian Yelich, in the first inning. However, Buehler quickly recovered, dealing four and two thirds innings of one-run baseball while racking up seven punchouts. Buehler looked strong in his outing, although he was removed before reaching the required innings pitched to secure the win for himself. Instead, relief pitcher Ryan Madson would earn the win.

Following Buehler out of the ‘pen, in order, was Julio Urias, Ryan Madson, Kenley Jansen, and long-time ace, Clayton Kershaw. Super-utility player, Kiké Hernandez, told the team in the clubhouse, following the game, that Urias’ grandmother had passed away the night before. Urias recorded the loudest out of the game in his third of an inning on a spectacular catch by Chris Taylor. Hernandez said in an interview that he believes that Urias’ late grandmother was with Taylor spiritually to help him make that game-changing play.

Madson, Jansen, and Kershaw combined to close out the remaining four innings, allowing only one hit in that time while striking out seven. The three pitched excellently, shutting it down and eliminating the Brewers at Miller Park in front of their home faithful.

The offense was huge in this game, even while posting ugly stats with runners in scoring position. The Dodgers managed to get the home run ball working that helped them so greatly during the regular season. Both Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig launched home runs in the game; Bellinger’s homer for two runs, while Puig’s for three. Puig’s final line included three hits in the game, leading the team in that category.

Cody Bellinger would later in the night be awarded with the NLCS Most Valuable Player award, making him the youngest position player in Major League history to ever win a postseason MVP award.

Dodgers defeat the Brewers, 5-1. (Dodgers win NLCS, 4-3, advance to World Series)

Player of the Game: Yasiel Puig

Arrick Joel has covered the Dodgers since 2017, and for Dodgers-LowDown since 2018. Follow @ArrickJoel and @DodgersLowDown on Twitter for more.