In a remarkable display of pitching prowess, Blake Snell led the Los Angeles Dodgers to a narrow 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Monday night. The game will be remembered for Snell’s extraordinary performance, which some are calling one of the finest seen in postseason history.
Snell dominated the evening, successfully retiring 24 batters over eight innings, allowing only one hit— a third-inning single from Caleb Durbin. His remarkable control kept the Brewers at bay, leading them to swing and miss 22 times throughout the game, with a staggering 14 swings and misses coming off his changeup alone. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Snell, stating, “This is as good as I can remember in the postseason… You’re not going to see too many performances like that.”
The Brewers found it impossible to get any offensive momentum against Snell, with every pitch appearing nearly unhittable. According to teammate Freddie Freeman, “It was a masterpiece tonight,” while Mookie Betts, with years of postseason experience under his belt, remarked on the electric nature of Snell’s performance: “That’s pretty hard to do.”
This historic game marked a new milestone for Snell, who became the first pitcher ever to toss at least eight shutout innings in the postseason while allowing no more than one hit, no walks, and striking out ten or more batters. The last 17 batters he faced were retired without a ball leaving the infield. His dominance throughout the game highlighted a pitching gem that might rival the great performances of the past.
While the Brewers managed to score in the ninth inning against rookie Roki Sasaki, the damage had been done. Snell’s stellar performance, fueled by an amazing array of pitches and exceptional command, left the Brewers players in awe. “It seemed like he was hitting corners with everything,” said Brewers second baseman Brice Turang, encapsulating the frustration his team faced throughout the night.
Adding to the game’s drama were unique moments, including the first-ever 8-6-2 double play in postseason history, showcasing the unpredictable excitement of playoff baseball. Despite the chaos off the field, Snell maintained his focus, continuing to mow down batters and solidifying his reputation as a formidable postseason pitcher.
With an impressive ERA of 0.68 over his last six starts and 28 strikeouts in just 21 postseason innings, Snell has shown he can thrive under pressure. As the Dodgers aim for their first back-to-back championships in a quarter-century, Snell expressed his aspirations, stating, “I couldn’t wish for anything more. I’m just going to do the best I can to help us win a World Series.” His night was truly a testament to pitching excellence, setting the stage for what could be a historic postseason for the Dodgers.