Dodgers Recap: Snell’s masterpiece propels Dodgers to Game 1 victory

MILWAUKEE — Blake Snell is HIM! The Dodgers high-priced free agent is performing exactly as advertised when he and his two Cy Youngs were signed over the winter. He was as dominant as any Dodger pitcher not named Sandy in a masterful eight innings of one-hit ball against a pesky Brewers lineup. The ninth inning was a bit of an adventure, but thanks to an insurance run in the top half, the Dodgers were able to weather a Milwaukee rally in the bottom of the inning and preserve a 2-1 Game 1 victory, thus snatching home field advantage away from the Brewers.

Snell came into this game with everything working. It’s like he’s hit another gear in the post season. The lone bit of traffic he allowed was a single in the third by Caleb Durbin, who was quickly picked off. And that was the way it went all night long. The Brewers hitters couldn’t lay a glove on Snell, who cruised through the game with ruthless efficiency.

The first three innings went quietly for the Dodgers offense, but then in the top of the fourth, the Dodgers had a WTF play for the second straight game. But this one was far less satisfying than Orion Kerkering‘s miscue that won the NLDS. This time, the Dodgers had the bases loaded with just one out. Max Muncy drilled a long fly ball to DEEP center field that Sal Frelich first seemed to catch, but was called a live ball due to it hitting the wall before Frelich snatched it. Good for the Dodgers, right? Not so fast. Nobody on the bases seemed to have any idea that the ball was still in play and went scurrying back to their respective bases, which of course, they shouldn’t have. Even Teoscar Hernandez, who should have been tagging up, was inexplicably late in heading for home. The throw beat him to the plate, and another out was forced on the bases. A double play. Huh? You had to see it to believe it. A prime scoring chance flushed away due to poor field awareness. Ugh.

Finally, in the sixth inning, it was the Dodgers’ turn to finally get on the board. And in true Dodger fashion, the run came via the home run. With the bases empty and one out, Freddie Freeman drilled a 3-2 pitch from Milwaukee pitcher Chad Patrick into right field. The ball was a high, majestic drive, and just managed to clear the fence, bouncing off the canopy in the Brewers bullpen. The scoreless tie was broken. Dodgers up 1-0.

Now pitching with a lead, Snell continued to pound the zone for three more innings. He proceeded to retire the next nine hitters in order, and walked off the mound with a magnificent eight-inning performance. His line for the night: 8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K. All on 103 pitches.

Then in the ninth, things got nuts. First, usually solid Brewers closer Abner Uribe lost command of the strike zone and issued a leadoff walk to Max Muncy. Kike Hernandez tried to but, but didn’t get it down. Of he didn’t. So, on an 0-2, he simply ripped a single into right. Of course he did. Andy Pages did managed to bunt, so there were runners at second and third with one out for the top of the order.

Then an instant reply of Thursday night. An intentional walk to Shohei to load the bases. Then, Uribe battled with Mookie Betts, but lost him, too. The third walk of the inning. Run scored, and it was now 2-0. They had a chance to add more, but Alex Call popped out, and Freddie Freeman hit a nice gap job that was run down my centerfielder Sal Frelich. Still, the Dodgers would soon learn how important that run would be.

Roki Sasaki came in and looked very… human. It looked more like the April Roki when the Japanese star couldn’t find the strike zone. He issued a one-out walk to Isaac Collins and then fell behind Jake Bauers before giving up a ground rule double to put the tying run in scoring position. Yikes! Jackson Chourios drove in the Brewers first run with a sacrifice fly, but then more walks. First, to Christian Yelich. Dave Roberts had seen enough. Roki just didn’t have it in this one. So he went to the mound and called for Blake Treinen? Yes, the much maligned Treinen came into the game with everyting on the line. Didn’t have that on my Bingo card. Treinen battled William Contreras for six pitches before losing him to a walk when a sweeper fell wide. Bases loaded. Again. (I know. I know!)

But Treinen came through. He got Brice Turang to chase a 2-2 heater out of the zone to strike out and end the game. Whew! Dodgers win!

If your heart can bear it, the series resumes on Wednesday. Same times, Same Station. And hopefully, same result. Six wins down. Seven wins to go. Let’s do this.

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