You know that feeling when your ace closer steps onto the mound in the ninth, two-run lead in hand, and you think the W is locked? The Dodgers got a brutal reminder that baseball always finds a way to punch you in the gut. Edwin Díaz, usually money, absolutely imploded in the top of the ninth on Thursday, turning a surefire win into a gut-wrenching loss against the Brewers. This wasn’t a little hiccup, this was a full-blown collapse that rocked Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers’ Painful Rally Killer
This four-game series between the Dodgers and Brewers already feels high stakes. Both teams have been a bit shaky lately, with the Dodgers not getting an August win until this past weekend, even if sweeping the Royals looks good on paper. The Brewers, meanwhile, got swept by the Padres and lost their spot atop MLB’s best record. So when Max Muncy stepped up as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the sixth with two runners on, and blasted a three-run shot to put LA up 4-2, the momentum felt huge. That dinger, by the way, made Muncy the all-time leader for Dodger Stadium homers with a whopping 131. Incredible. But that was it. That was the last time the Dodgers would score all night.
Then came the ninth. Díaz trotted out, tasked with locking down that 4-2 lead. Instead, he gave up a single to shortstop Joey Ortiz. Then another to second baseman David Hamilton. And another to leadoff hitter Jackson Chourio, suddenly making it a one-run game. Center fielder Garrett Mitchell kept the hit parade going with a fourth consecutive single, tying things up 4-4. After first baseman Gary Sánchez mercifully struck out for the second out, the Dodgers had to go to Alex Vesia to try and escape. He couldn’t do it, giving up a single to right fielder Jake Bauers, which gave the Brewers the lead. That three-run rally in the ninth felt like a knockout blow. Brewers closer Trevor Megill then came in and made quick work of Mookie Betts, Muncy, and Kyle Tucker, securing the W for Milwaukee. With this loss, the Dodgers are 73-49, the Brewers are 75-47, and the Braves are chilling at 73-48. The Dodgers are now half-a-game behind the Braves in the overall standings. Every game matters right now, and this one stings.
No Strikeouts, No Problem for the Tigers
Across the league, something wild and incredibly rare happened on Thursday, too. In this era of flamethrowers and strikeout kings, the Detroit Tigers pitched a shutout against the Guardians without recording a single strikeout. Let that sink in. A shutout. Zero Ks. The last time that happened was 2014, with Rick Porcello on the mound for the Tigers back then. History repeating itself is wild. Starter Keider Montero went 6 ⅓ innings, and then relievers Tyler Holton and Kenley Jansen finished it off. This trio allowed just four hits, walked one batter total, and gave up zero runs, all without a single K. Big props to the Guardians’ pitching, too, they only gave up three runs in the whole game.
This Brewers-Dodgers series is just getting started, and you know the Dodgers are going to be out for blood after that brutal finish. Every pitch, every swing, every save , or blown save , is going to shape how this season unfolds for these teams. Let’s see what happens next!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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