Brewers Beat Dodgers 7-4 to Take 2-0 NLCS Lead

Milwaukee strengthened its position in the National League Championship Series on Monday, October 12, 2026, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-4 at American Family Field to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. William Contreras drove in three runs, while four Brewers relievers combined to retire the final 15 Dodgers batters in order.

The victory gave Milwaukee another chance to challenge the two-time defending World Series champions, who must now recover at Dodger Stadium. According to the Associated Press, Los Angeles managed only three hits and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, bringing its postseason record in those situations to 2-for-26.

Contreras played the decisive role in a game in which the Dodgers repeatedly took the lead but could not hold it. The Brewers catcher delivered a game-tying single in the first inning, hit a 436-foot home run in the fifth and drove home the go-ahead run in the sixth.

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy has emphasized an approach centered on execution, patience and winning each game. The Brewers finished the regular season with a major-league-best 103 victories, according to ESPN, and continued to rely on their depth rather than depending exclusively on home runs.

Brandon Woodruff, the veteran right-hander currently on the injured list, described the team's determination after previous postseason disappointments.

"Quite frankly, I think we're just tired of losing in the playoffs," Woodruff said.

Woodruff has experienced several versions of the Milwaukee roster, including the 2018 team that lost Game 7 of the NLCS to Los Angeles and the squad swept by the Dodgers in last year's postseason. He credited Murphy's leadership and the manager's consistent emphasis on winning the game in front of them.

"Win tonight," Woodruff said, describing the message Murphy has reinforced throughout the organization.

The Brewers' offense demonstrated that philosophy against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who entered Monday with an 8-1 record and a 2.14 ERA across 11 career postseason appearances. The Dodgers starter lasted just 2⅔ innings, his shortest postseason outing, allowing four hits and three runs before leaving with Milwaukee ahead.

Jake Bauers helped force Yamamoto out by extending a third-inning plate appearance to 12 pitches. With the bases loaded and a full count, Bauers took a curveball in the dirt for a walk, allowing Christian Yelich to follow with a two-run single that put Milwaukee ahead 3-2.

"That's a great pitcher," Bauers said, acknowledging Yamamoto's ability to execute pitches and limit opportunities for hitters.

According to Yahoo Sports, Bauers and his teammates deliberately sought longer at-bats to increase the pitcher's workload. Milwaukee's hitters made Yamamoto throw 75 pitches in 2⅔ innings, and 11 of the 14 batters he faced saw at least four pitches.

"Just us being able to score in different types of ways is so important," second baseman Brice Turang said. "And that's why we win."

Los Angeles briefly recovered in the fifth inning. Kyle Tucker doubled, and a throwing error by Brewers starter Logan Henderson allowed Tucker to score. Tommy Edman subsequently advanced and scored on Freddie Freeman's sacrifice fly, giving the Dodgers a 4-3 advantage.

Contreras erased that lead with his home run against Kris Bubic. His sixth-inning single then brought home David Hamilton, who had reached on a hit-by-pitch and advanced after a throwing error on a pickoff attempt involving first baseman Freeman.

"I think it's the confidence that Milwaukee instilled in me from day one whenever they acquired me," Contreras said, crediting the organization for allowing him to play his natural game.

Contreras joined Milwaukee in a December 2022 three-team trade and has since established himself as a central figure in the lineup. He recorded 94 RBIs during the regular season, including 89 while playing catcher, breaking Hall of Famer Ted Simmons' club record for RBIs recorded while catching.

Hamilton and Turang added RBI singles in the eighth inning, extending Milwaukee's advantage to 7-4. Hamilton reached base four times and scored three runs, while Contreras and Turang also reached base four times apiece, according to Yahoo Sports.

The Brewers' bullpen secured the result after Henderson's departure. Dustin May, JoJo Romero, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby helped shut down Los Angeles, with Milwaukee's relievers allowing only one earned run across 28⅔ postseason innings entering the end of Game 2, according to the Associated Press.

"I'm not not shocked because I know, one through nine, they come to play," Murphy said of his team's offensive consistency, as reported by Yahoo Sports.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Yamamoto's unusually short outing after the right-hander struggled to find his usual command.

"Just wasn't sharp today," Roberts said. "He just didn't have it tonight, which is very rare."

Los Angeles now faces the task of reversing a two-game deficit as the series moves to California. Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, at Dodger Stadium, where the Dodgers will try to revive their pursuit of a third consecutive World Series championship.