Brewers Pull Off Wild 8-6-2 NLCS Double Play vs Dodgers

The 2025 National League Championship Series kicked off with a defensive play that instantly became legend. In Game 1 between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers, the Brewers pulled off an unprecedented 8-6-2 double play—the first ever in MLB postseason history.

Fans, players, and coaches stood frozen in disbelief. That’s October baseball for you—no one’s ever really safe from a twist.

A Play for the Ages

It happened in the top of the fourth. Bases loaded, one out, and Dodgers slugger Max Muncy stepped in.

Muncy sent a deep drive to center, a shot that looked like it might clear the wall or at least bang off it. Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick chased it down and seemed to make a leaping catch.

But slow-motion replay told a different story. The ball actually hit the wall first, then bounced into Frelick’s glove—still very much in play.

The Confusion That Changed the Game

That split second—was it caught or not?—threw the base runners into chaos. Dodgers runners, convinced Frelick caught it, slowed up and started tagging instead of running hard.

That hesitation gave Milwaukee their chance. Frelick hurled the ball to shortstop Joey Ortiz, who zipped it to catcher William Contreras at the plate.

Contreras tagged out Teoscar Hernández, who tried to score from third. Then, thinking fast, Contreras stepped on third base to force out Will Smith, who was scrambling back to second.

Just like that, the Brewers turned a wild, historic 8-6-2 double play.

The Scorer’s Decision

Most fans had never seen anything like it. But the official scorer called it a ground-into-double-play for Muncy, since both outs were force plays at different bases.

Baseball’s scoring system is nothing if not quirky—sometimes the numbers barely hint at what really happened.

Dodgers’ Perspective

Afterward, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t mince words, calling Hernández’s baserunning mistake a “brain fart.” Hernández owned up to it, knowing his hesitation helped create one of the oddest outs you’ll ever see in October.

Brewers’ Execution and Mindset

Even though Milwaukee dropped the game 2-1, they pointed to that defensive gem as proof of their communication, instinct, and composure when it mattered most.

Every piece just clicked. A moment’s hesitation anywhere, and it all falls apart.

Why It Matters

Every play in the postseason feels bigger. The Dodgers might have won, but that 8-6-2 double play? It stole the show, flooding highlight reels and sparking debates online.

It’s a classic baseball reminder: never assume a play is routine—because honestly, it almost never is.

Historical Context

Double plays have always been some of baseball’s most thrilling defensive moments. But you almost never see them in this order.

An 8-6-2 double play, especially in October? That’s a statistical unicorn. It’s already a part of MLB lore.

Lessons for the Future

Both teams can take away some real lessons from this. For the Dodgers, it’s a reminder: keep your baserunning awareness sharp, especially when things get tense.

The Brewers, on the other hand, showed how staying mentally locked in and physically alert lets you pounce on opponents’ mistakes. Coaches at every level will probably point to this play for years. Hustle and attention to detail can turn chaos into opportunity—it’s not just a cliché.

As the NLCS rolls on, that 8-6-2 double play will stick in everyone’s mind. Not just for being historic, but because it showed how postseason baseball can deliver the wildest, most thrilling moments when you least expect them.

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