Brice Turang Homer Helps Brewers Edge Dodgers in NLCS Opener

Brice Turang homered and the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen protected a one-run lead as Milwaukee beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night at American Family Field.

Turang’s fourth-inning solo shot erased an early deficit before Luis Lara delivered the go-ahead single an inning later. Five Brewers pitchers combined to keep Los Angeles scoreless over the final seven innings, giving Milwaukee a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Turang changes the game on both sides

The Dodgers struck first in the second inning. Shohei Ohtani walked, Teoscar Hernández singled and Andy Pages drove in the game’s opening run, but Milwaukee’s defense repeatedly prevented Los Angeles from turning traffic into a larger inning.

Turang was central to that resistance. The second baseman made an early stop and throw to retire Mookie Betts, then helped turn one of three double plays that cut short Dodgers rallies.

His biggest contribution came at the plate in the bottom of the fourth. Turang drove a 95.5 mph sinker from Tarik Skubal 384 feet to left-center field, tying the score at 1-1. The home run left his bat at 102.5 mph.

Milwaukee moved ahead in the fifth. Garrett Mitchell drew a walk, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored when Lara lined an RBI single. That sequence gave the Brewers the only lead their bullpen needed.

Brewers bullpen closes the door

Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run on five hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings, striking out five. DL Hall recorded the final two outs of the fifth and earned the win.

Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill covered the final four innings without allowing a run. Ashby worked two hitless innings, while Megill navigated two ninth-inning walks to record his third save of the postseason.

Milwaukee’s relievers combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed only two hits. The Dodgers finished with seven hits and six walks but repeatedly failed to cash in their opportunities, going scoreless after the second inning.

Skubal took the loss after allowing two runs on five hits and two walks across five innings. He struck out seven. Los Angeles’ bullpen also worked three scoreless innings, but the Dodgers never recovered from Milwaukee’s middle-inning rally.

Milwaukee takes the early series lead

The 2-1 victory gives the Brewers home-field momentum in a matchup between the National League’s top two regular-season teams. Milwaukee won 103 games, while Los Angeles finished with 100.

Game 2 is scheduled for Monday in Milwaukee, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto set to start for the Dodgers against Logan Henderson.