LOS ANGELES — The Brewers World Series wait is finally over. Garrett Mitchell hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, Milwaukee’s brilliant bullpen slammed the door late, and the Brewers rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 on Thursday night in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, completing a four-game sweep that sends the franchise to its first World Series since 1982.
Shohei Ohtani’s first postseason home run — a 428-foot, three-run blast in the second inning and his first homer in nearly two months — staked Los Angeles to a 4-0 lead. For half an inning, the Brewers World Series dream looked dead, as the Dodgers appeared poised to extend the series behind a strong start from Tyler Glasnow through four innings.
But Milwaukee chipped away. Jake Bauers delivered a two-run single in the fourth, and an RBI single plus a bases-loaded walk tied the game in the fifth. With the score knotted at 4-all, Mitchell fell behind 0-2 against Tanner Scott before working a full count and launching a 409-foot leadoff drive to center field — the first homer of his career on an 0-2 count. No. 9 hitter David Hamilton, who hit just four homers in the regular season, added a two-out solo shot off Edwin Díaz in the ninth for insurance.
The Dodgers had the tying run on third with one out in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, and none of those runs scored. JoJo Romero struck out Max Muncy with Kyle Tucker at third to end the sixth, and Aaron Ashby pitched three scoreless innings for the save, keeping the Brewers World Series dream on track.
How the Brewers World Series Sweep Avenged Last October
A year ago, the Dodgers swept Milwaukee out of the NLCS. This time, the Brewers returned the favor — and became the first major league club to complete a postseason sweep after getting swept by that same opponent in the previous postseason — the most emphatic statement of this Brewers World Series run.
“They may have a bunch of Hall of Famers, but we’ve got a bunch of gamers — and the gamers won this week,” manager Pat Murphy said. “We weren’t coming in to play patty-cake,” Murphy added. “We were hungry, and as long as it’s an even playing field, we’re going to come in and give it our best shot to win. That’s exactly what we did.”
Brewers captain Christian Yelich described the comeback mentality that defined the clincher: “We got down early tonight and we were like, it’s going to be a great story. We’re going to come back and win this. Like, stay together, start chipping away. And that’s exactly what they did.”
Brewers World Series Heroes: Mitchell and the Bullpen
Mitchell also homered in Wednesday’s 6-2 Game 3 victory, and the 25-year-old outfielder was at the center of everything in the clincher. “I’m excited that we’ve got a few more games to play and get to go home with the fans and celebrate there, too,” Mitchell said.
Reliever Aaron Ashby, who nailed down the final three innings, summed up the group’s edge: “Playing with that chip on our shoulder. You don’t ever know what to expect going into a series like that last year. You don’t know how bad it can be, and then it was as bad as it was. And we came out and we survived, and we came back this year, and those guys played their tails off.”
For Los Angeles, the Brewers World Series berth ended a shot at history. The Dodgers’ goal of a three-peat — not done since the New York Yankees from 1998-2000 and never by a National League team — died with an anemic offense and injuries to Ohtani and others on an aging roster. “I’m not used to those consolation speeches,” manager Dave Roberts said. “The thing about sports that we all love is no matter how much you prepare, you want it, there’s no guarantees.”
Brewers World Series Opener Set for Oct. 23 in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, which topped the majors with 103 wins during the regular season, will have home-field advantage throughout the Fall Classic. The Brewers now get a week off before hosting the American League champion — the Tampa Bay Rays or Cleveland Guardians — in the World Series opener on Friday, Oct. 23.
The franchise’s only other World Series appearance came 44 years ago, when Milwaukee was still in the American League and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. This Brewers World Series trip is the club’s first National League pennant, and it gives a young, fearless roster the chance to turn this Brewers World Series berth into the first title in franchise history in front of its home fans.