The improbable happenings of the 2025 Brewers continue as they turn a deep fly ball into an unexpected double play.
During Monday night’s NLCS Game 1 (LA 2, MIL 1), Milwaukee converted Max Muncy’s powerful hit to center field into force outs at both home plate and third base, escaping a bases-loaded situation and maintaining a scoreless tie. The Dodgers made solid contact against Quinn Priester throughout the inning but ultimately failed to score.
The situation unfolded as follows: With one out and the bases loaded, Muncy drove a ball towards the center field wall. Sal Frelick attempted to make the catch, but the ball deflected off his glove, struck the wall, and was then caught as it descended. Since the ball touched the wall before being caught, it remained in play, preventing an out. The left field umpire, Chad Fairchild, correctly indicated “no catch” throughout the sequence.
Amidst the resulting confusion, all three Dodgers baserunners hesitated, providing the Brewers with the opportunity to execute the force out at home plate. Catcher William Contreras then proceeded to third base to complete another force out, concluding the inning. Here’s the play:
The most significant error was made by Teoscar Hernández, the runner positioned at third base. While he correctly tagged up on the play, even with uncertainty regarding the catch, he should have immediately sprinted towards home once Frelick secured the ball. Instead, Hernández paused for too long, resulting in him being forced out. Will Smith, the runner at second, also failed to advance to third and was subsequently forced out.
“It all transpired very quickly. To be perfectly frank, I was unsure if he made the catch,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged post-game. “We thoroughly review that rule. Teo is aware of the rule. I believe he experienced a momentary lapse in judgment, recognizing that a tag is permissible upon contact with the glove. However, he tagged, executed it correctly, then noticed the missed catch and retreated. That constituted the error. However, he took responsibility for it, and there was nothing further to be done.”
The Dodgers challenged the call, seeking to overturn at least one of the force outs, but their appeal was unsuccessful.
“I simply sought clarification. They got it right,” Roberts stated.
The official scoring designates it as an 8-6-2 grounded into double play, highlighting the occasional peculiarities of baseball scoring. Rule 5.09(a)(1) addresses the act of catching the ball. The rule states:
A catch is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it; providing he does not use his cap, protector, pocket or any other part of his uniform in getting possession. It is not a catch, however, if simultaneously or immediately following his contact with the ball, he collides with a player, or with a wall, or if he falls down, and as a result of such collision or falling, drops the ball.
Frelick’s initial contact with the ball occurred before it struck the wall, thus invalidating the catch. Securing the ball on its descent was merely a stroke of luck (or commendable defense) on Frelick’s part, but it did not result in an out. Once the ball made contact with the wall, it became a base hit for Muncy, obligating the runners to advance. Their failure to do so enabled the Brewers to execute an unusual inning-ending double play.
“Sal caught it, but then it touched the wall. A baserunner became confused, and we swiftly retrieved the ball, making the play at the plate. Furthermore, William demonstrated excellent awareness by getting the out at third,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy explained after the game. “I mean, it’s highly unconventional. It’s challenging for the baserunner to fully comprehend what transpired, but it’s one of those unpredictable occurrences in baseball. We were exceptionally fortunate in that situation.”
An overlooked aspect of the inning was the Dodgers’ effective hitting against Priester. Hernández drew a walk, Freddie Freeman launched a powerful hit to left field that necessitated a leaping catch by Isaac Collins, Smith and Tommy Edman each singled, and then Muncy hit a ball to the very top of the wall in center. Priester and the Brewers were fortunate to escape the inning without conceding a run.
The double play did not ultimately prove detrimental, as the Dodgers withstood a bases-loaded threat in the ninth inning to secure Game 1. Historically, the team that triumphs in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series has gone on to win the series 65% of the time.
