Brewers lead Dodgers 2-0; Guardians strike first against the Rays
The victory, fueled by a Milwaukee bullpen that didn't allow a single hit in five innings, left the Dodgers—the two-time defending champions—facing a tough challenge to reach their third consecutive World Series.
MLB file photo
Venezuelan William Contreras drove in three runs in the Brewers' 7-4 victory over the Dodgers, giving them a 2-0 lead in the series, while the Guardians rallied to defeat the Rays 7-3 in Game 1 of the American League series.
The victory, fueled by a Milwaukee bullpen that allowed no hits in five innings, left the Dodgers, the two-time defending champions, facing a tough challenge to reach their third consecutive World Series.
Los Angeles fans had high hopes that starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, last year's World Series MVP (Most Valuable Player), would help his team get back on track in this best-of-seven series.
However, Yamamoto, who pitched complete games in both last year's National League Championship Series against the Brewers and the World Series, didn't even manage to complete three innings.
The pitcher was pulled after throwing 75 pitches against Milwaukee's relentless offense. He allowed three runs and four hits.
The Dodgers' offensive star, Shohei Ohtani, continued to struggle to find his best form: he has three hits in 20 at-bats in these playoffs and hasn't hit a home run since August.
The Brewers, who led Major League Baseball with 103 wins in the regular season, need two more wins to reach their second World Series in franchise history, 44 years after their only previous appearance.
The game began with the Dodgers taking the lead thanks to a sacrifice fly by Dominican Teoscar Hernández that brought home Mookie Betts.
Milwaukee responded with an RBI single by Contreras, but a throwing error by starter Logan Henderson allowed Tommy Edman to score for Los Angeles.
In the third inning, a bases-loaded single by Christian Yelich drove in two runs and restored the Brewers' lead, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto was pulled after a long inning.
The Dodgers retook the lead in the fifth inning, following another error by Henderson and a sacrifice fly by Freddie Freeman.
However, Contreras tied the game at 4-4 with a solo home run off Kris Bubic and was decisive again in the next inning with an RBI single that put Milwaukee in the lead.
In the eighth inning, Brice Turang hit a single that extended the lead and then scored on another single by Jake Bauers to seal the Brewers' 7-4 victory.
Game 3 will be played Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Guardians come back against Rays
Tampa Bay scored two runs in the first inning. A single by Junior Caminero brought Yandy Díaz home, and Caminero then scored on another single by Jonny DeLuca.
The score remained unchanged until the sixth inning, when Chase DeLauter hit a home run into the gap between left and center field to bring Cleveland within striking distance.
The Guardians tied the game in the seventh inning with a home run by Patrick Baile and took a 4-2 lead in the eighth thanks to a two-RBI single by Nathaniel Lowe.
Cedric Mullins cut into Tampa Bay's lead with a home run, but Cleveland sealed the victory in the ninth inning.
With two outs and two strikes, the Dominican José Ramírez hit an RBI single that brought Ángel Martínez home.
Then, a double by Jo Adell brought Ramírez and DeLauter home to make the final score 7-3.
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