The Los Angeles Dodgers snatched a 2-1 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS, and honestly, it felt like the Brewers kinda handed it to them. The top of the third inning was an absolute wild ride, sparked by not one, but two glaring defensive lapses from the home squad.
Defensive Woes Give Dodgers Life
The inning kicked off with Tommy Edman dropping a single, setting the stage. Then Mookie Betts hit a grounder to short that had “double play” written all over it. But man, baseball can be cruel. The ball took a crazy hop, deflecting off the heel of Cooper Pratt’s glove, finding grass in shallow left field. Just like that, the first two runners were on base, and the tension was palpable.
Freddie Freeman stepped up next and absolutely annihilated a low changeup from Brewers starter Logan Henderson. That ball was barreled at 106.1 mph, screaming over Sal Frelick’s head in right field. For a second, it looked like a guaranteed extra-base hit, bringing both runners home. But Frelick, a Gold Glove winner in 2024, pulled off a ridiculous play. He leaped, reached behind him, and somehow plucked that line drive out of the air for an out. Seriously, what a catch! Edman, ever heads-up, tagged up and hustled to third, a move that proved absolutely massive for what happened next.
The Go-Ahead Run: A Total Gift
So, Betts was on first, second base was wide open, and there was one out. You just knew Mookie, the eight-time All-Star, was a threat to steal. Henderson, clearly feeling the pressure, decided to try and pick off Betts at first. Big mistake. He spiked the ball hard in front of first baseman Jake Bauers, sending it rolling deep into foul territory. Edman, standing on third, just trotted home. No contest. That miscue gave the Dodgers the go-ahead run, making it 2-1, and you could practically hear the collective groan from the Brewers’ dugout. What a brutal way to give up a lead in a huge NLCS game!
The Dodgers are now up in this NLCS, thanks to some huge breaks. Game 3 is next, and the Brewers absolutely have to clean up their defense if they want to get back in this series. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and every single play is going to matter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply