Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Brice Turang hit a game-tying homer before Luis Lara plated what proved to be the winning run as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS.
The Brewers' bullpen surrendered just two hits, with three strikeouts and three walks, and did not allow a run over the final 4 2/3 innings of the 2-1 triumph Sunday in Milwaukee.
"It's amazing what they are doing and the work they are putting in," said Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski, who allowed five hits and one run, with five strikeouts and three walks, over 4 1/3 innings.
The Brewers will now look to increase their lead in Game 2 of the best-of-seven game series Monday in Milwaukee.
"You can't go into a long series against a team that has the best record in baseball and expect to just win four," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "It's going to be a long series. We knew it coming in. We had our chances, but they made plays, pitches when they needed to. We've just got to reset."
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (R) celebrates with third base coach Matt Erickson after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday in Milwaukee. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
Game 1 was billed as a matchup between aces -- the Dodgers' Tarik Skubal and Brewers' Misiorowski. Skubal was more stingy to start. He allowed just one baserunner through the first three innings.
Center fielder Andy Pages drove in the Dodgers' lone run with an RBI single in the second.
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang hits a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday in Milwaukee. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
Turang came to the plate to shift energy to lead off the bottom of the fourth. He took two Skubal outside fastballs for balls. He then hacked at an inside sinker, sending the 2-0 offering to left field for a 384-foot homer.
Skubal escaped that inning without additional damage, but he returned in the fifth. The Brewers pounced on his brief struggle with command to start the inning.
Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Megill (R) celebrates with catcher William Contreras after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday in Milwaukee. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
Center fielder Garrett Mitchell drew a leadoff walk. Shortstop Cooper Pratt then moved Mitchell to second base with a sacrifice bunt. Lara hit Skubal's next pitch to center field, bringing in Mitchell from second base for the go-ahead score.
The Dodgers threatened with two baserunners in the top of the sixth, but Brewers relief pitcher Abner Uribe got out of trouble with an inning-ending strikeout of Pages. Fellow Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby struck out the side in the seventh and did not allow a hit in the eighth.
Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell (L) scores against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday in Milwaukee. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
Brewers closer Trevor Megill issued two walks in the top of the ninth, but got out of that jam when shortstop Mookie Betts flew out to Mitchell in center field to end the series opener.
Turang went 1 for 2 with a walk, in addition to his game-tying solo shot. Lara went 1 for 3. Left fielder Jackson Chourio went 2 for 4.
Skubal surrendered five hits and two runs, with seven strikeouts and two walks, over five innings. His five hits allowed were tied for the second-most of his career in a postseason game.
The Brewers (1-0) will host the Dodgers (0-1) in Game 2 at 5 p.m. EDT Monday in Milwaukee. The Dodgers will host Game 3 on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
