Recap: Dodgers Lose To Milwaukee; Trail NLCS 2 Games To 1

This will not be a post filled with the highlights I wish I could share with you all. In game three of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers did not execute. And because they did not execute – they lost the game 4-0 – and a season is once again on the brink.

In spite of Walker Buehler having what seemed like his best stuff; the Brewers scored in the first frame of the game. Ryan Braun caught a Buehler fastball and sent it down the left field line to score Christian Yelich. Yelich reached base on a walk, after a few pitches that could have been called either way.

.@ChristianYelich already has a lot of fond memories at Dodgers Stadium. Now he has one of scoring the 1st run of game 3 of the #NLCS. #OurCrewOurOctober pic.twitter.com/AqHS6bwErl

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 16, 2018

As a result, the Dodgers found themselves in an early 1-0 hole. They wouldn’t be able to dig themselves out of said hole on this night like they have so many times before.

Los Angeles mounted what appeared to be a rally in the bottom of the second inning. Manny Machado lined a single to left field, and two batters later; Yasiel Puig doubled. With runners on second and third and one out, Yasmani Grandal struck out and failed to score the tying run.

Leading off the fifth inning, Grandal answered another tough ballgame with a ground-rule double. The Dodgers would fail to advance him from second base in three attempts.

From there, the Brewers played add-on. Travis Shaw tripled off the center field wall. He scored on a wild pitch that Grandal could have probably prevented.

Then, Orlando Arcia ended Buehler’s night and gave the Brewers a 4-0 lead with a home run. This would hold up as the final. Josh Hader entered in the eighth and struck out David Freese and Matt Kemp on eight total pitches. Jeremy Jeffress took over in the ninth – and while the Dodgers loaded the bases with one out – the rally fell short.

Is there such a thing as a seeing-eye home run? If so, here's an example of one. #OurCrewOurOctober pic.twitter.com/ZQ8obyXE9O

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 16, 2018

Buehler really was better than his line score will show. He went seven innings, striking out eight, allowing four earned runs and walking only one. The Brewers totaled seven hits, five which came off Buehler.

Machado was the most notable Dodger offensively, going 2-for-3 with a walk.

Analysis

I won’t mix words – Tuesday is close to being the season. Rich Hill will oppose Gio Gonzalez at Dodger Stadium with just about everything on the line. The Dodgers have Clayton Kershaw in their hip pocket for game five, but they need to give meaning to that game. With the unlikelihood that the Dodgers could take three games in a row from Milwaukee, tomorrow’s game becomes an all-in scenario. Tonight’s loss will mean that no matter what, the Dodgers will have to win at least one game in Milwaukee to advance to their second straight World Series.