Brewers sweep Dodgers to reach first World Series since 1982

The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the World Series for the first time in 44 years after erasing a four-run deficit Thursday to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 and complete a sweep of the National League Championship Series.

Garrett Mitchell broke a 4-4 tie with a leadoff home run in the sixth inning. David Hamilton added a two-out solo shot in the ninth, and Milwaukee’s bullpen kept the Dodgers scoreless over the final seven innings.

The result reversed last season’s NLCS, when Los Angeles swept Milwaukee. It also ended the Dodgers’ bid for a third straight championship.

“We got down early tonight and we were like, it’s going to be a great story,” Brewers captain Christian Yelich said. “We’re going to come back and win this. Like, stay together, start chipping away. And that’s exactly what they did.”

Los Angeles took a 4-0 lead in the second inning on Andy Pages’ RBI single and Shohei Ohtani’s three-run homer. It was Ohtani’s first home run of this postseason. According to The Guardian, he was playing with knee and biceps discomfort and struck out three times.

Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow retired the first 10 batters he faced, six by strikeout, before Milwaukee responded in the fourth. Jake Bauers hit a two-run ground-rule double to cut the deficit in half.

Hamilton’s RBI single in the fifth made it 4-3 and ended Glasnow’s outing. The Brewers then loaded the bases with two outs, and Bauers drew a walk from Alex Vesia to force home the tying run. Glasnow was charged with four runs over 4⅓ innings.

Mitchell put Milwaukee ahead for the first time in the sixth, driving a full-count pitch from Tanner Scott to center field. “I’ve always dreamt of moments like these as a kid,” Mitchell said. Hamilton, who hit four home runs during the regular season, gave the Brewers an insurance run off Edwin Díaz in the ninth.

The Dodgers had chances to answer. JoJo Romero struck out Max Muncy with a runner at third to end the sixth. Aaron Ashby escaped threats in the seventh and eighth, including one that put Will Smith on third with one out. Ashby pitched the final three innings for his second save of the postseason, while Bauers was named NLCS MVP.

“At the end of the day, we got beat,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We got outplayed in all facets. Those guys played flawless.”

Milwaukee, which led the majors with 103 regular-season wins, will host the World Series opener on Oct. 23 against Cleveland or Tampa Bay. The Brewers’ only previous appearance came in 1982, when they played in the American League and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. The franchise is still seeking its first title.

“It’s so important for the community, the entire state of Wisconsin,” Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said.