MILWAUKEE — Regular-season dominance over an opponent usually means little, if anything, for a rematch in the playoffs.
Just ask the 2015 Mets, who went winless in seven games against the Cubs during the regular season before sweeping them in four NLCS games to gain a World Series berth.
The Dodgers this year lost all six regular-season games against the Brewers, but on Monday night, the payback tour began for the defending World Series champions.
Blake Snell’s left arm delivered it. Reaffirming the decision by the Dodgers to sign him last offseason, Snell faced the minimum 24 batters over eight innings in his team’s 2-1 victory in Game 1 of the NLCS at American Family Field.
The Brewers rallied in the ninth inning against the Dodgers bullpen but ultimately left the bases loaded after scoring once against Roki Sasaki.
Caleb Durbin’s single leading off the third accounted for the only Brewers base runner against Snell. But Durbin was picked off first — officially a caught stealing — and the Brewers went quietly for the remainder. Snell set a career postseason high with 10 strikeouts over his 103-pitch night.
“I feel like the whole postseason I have been pretty locked in,” said Snell, who has a 0.86 ERA over those three starts.
The twirling yellow rally towels and enthusiastic crowd — excited about the first NLCS appearance by the Brewers in seven years — could provide only so much energy for the home team.
“The kid is incredible,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said, referring to Snell. “I’ve seen him pitch like that before.”
Max Muncy was within inches of a grand slam in the fourth but instead saw his deep fly to center field turn into an inning-ending double play.
Sal Frelick juggled Muncy’s shot near the top of the fence, with the ball hitting the padding before settling into Frelick’s glove. Teoscar Hernández, who retreated to third base to tag up then hesitated, was thrown out at the plate on a force play before catcher William Contreras walked to third base and forced out Will Smith, who never ventured far from second, to conclude the inning.
Freddie Freeman homered in the sixth for the game’s first run. Mookie Betts drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth that extended the Dodgers lead to 2-0.
Sasaki, who has transitioned into the closer’s role after spending the regular season in the Dodgers starting rotation, could get just two outs in the ninth, allowing a run before he was removed with runners on the corners. Blake Treinen walked Contreras to load the bases before Brice Turang struck out to end the drama.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated he at least considered the possibility of allowing Snell to start the ninth.
“I thought it was a tough one for me,” Roberts said. “He hadn’t been in the ninth inning [this season] and potentially going on regular rest his next outing. I thought it was 50-50. Roki has been throwing the baseball really well. We had a two-run lead. I felt good with Roki there.”