The Los Angeles Dodgers took a 2-1 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the top of the third inning in Game 2 of the NLCS on a pair of defensive lapses by the home team.
Tommy Edman led off the frame with one. Mookie Betts followed with a grounder to short that could have been a double play, but Cooper Pratt’s ball deflected off his heel and found the grass in shallow left field to put the first two runners on.
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Freddie Freeman came dangerously close to both home runs when a barreling low changeup from Brewers starter Logan Henderson 106.1 mph over the head of Sal Frelick in right field looked to be a fireball hit outside the base, but Frelick – the 2024 Gold Glove winner – made an incredible catch, leaping and reaching behind himself to pull a line drive out of the air for the out. Edman was able to tag up and reach third, which proved to be crucial for what was next.
With Betts on first and second base, he suddenly posed a threat with a steal in the inning. Henderson attempted to pick off the eight-time all-star, but he spiked the ball in front of first baseman Jake Bauers. The ball rolled deep into foul territory, giving Edman more than enough space to run from third to score.
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This article first appeared in USA TODAY: The Dodgers used the Brewers’ defensive stops to retake the lead in the wild inning