The Milwaukee Brewers are returning to the World Series for the first time since 1982. Their breakthrough arrived Thursday at Dodger Stadium, where they erased a four-run deficit and defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
The victory completed a four-game sweep of the two-time defending champions and secured Milwaukee’s second National League pennant. The World Series opener is scheduled for October 23 on FOX.
A Comeback That Changed the Series
Los Angeles appeared in control after taking an early 4-0 lead, but Milwaukee steadily worked its way back. The Brewers scored twice in the fourth inning and twice more in the fifth before taking the lead for good.
Garrett Mitchell supplied the decisive blow in the sixth, driving a solo home run off Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott. David Hamilton added insurance with a ninth-inning homer, giving Milwaukee valuable breathing room before the final three outs.
The Brewers also received a dominant late performance from their pitching staff. Aaron Ashby worked three scoreless innings to close out the win, while Milwaukee’s bullpen prevented the Dodgers from mounting another response.
| Key moment | Impact on Game 4 |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles takes a 4-0 lead | The Dodgers put Milwaukee under immediate pressure. |
| Milwaukee scores four runs | The Brewers levelled the game before the middle innings ended. |
| Garrett Mitchell’s sixth-inning homer | The solo shot gave Milwaukee its first lead. |
| David Hamilton’s ninth-inning homer | The insurance run strengthened the Brewers’ position. |
| Jackson Chourio’s final catch | The young outfielder secured the pennant-clinching out. |
Chourio Finishes the Job
The last out travelled deep into left field, forcing Jackson Chourio toward the warning track. He settled beneath the fly ball and made the catch that sent Milwaukee players rushing onto the field.
Brewers radio broadcaster Jeff Levering delivered the emotional call. Levering had shared the booth with the late Bob Uecker, and his declaration that Milwaukee had won the pennant gave fans a moment that will be remembered alongside the franchise’s most celebrated broadcasts.
The result also ended Los Angeles’s attempt to become the first team in decades to win three consecutive World Series titles. Instead, the Dodgers were swept by a Milwaukee club that recovered from last year’s four-game NLCS defeat at the hands of Los Angeles.
Yelich and Milwaukee Finally Move Past Los Angeles
Christian Yelich has experienced several difficult postseason endings against the Dodgers. Los Angeles defeated Milwaukee in the 2018 NLCS, eliminated the club again in 2020 and swept the Brewers in the 2025 championship series.
The 2018 defeat was especially painful. The Dodgers advanced in part because of Chris Taylor’s memorable defensive play in left field, while Milwaukee’s latest opportunity against Los Angeles arrived after another season of high expectations.
Yelich is the longest-serving hitter on the current roster. The Brewers named him captain this season, and he repeatedly emphasized that the new club should not be defined by the previous year’s disappointment. After the sweep, he pointed to the team’s shared confidence and its refusal to let an early deficit determine the outcome.
A Different Kind of Milwaukee Offence
The 1982 Brewers were known as “Harvey’s Wallbangers” because they led the majors in home runs. This year’s team reached the World Series through a very different offensive identity.
Milwaukee finished near the bottom of the regular-season home-run standings but ranked second in baseball in total runs. The Brewers relied on long at-bats, aggressive baserunning and constant pressure rather than waiting for one swing to change a game.
That approach made the NLCS especially unexpected. Milwaukee hit seven home runs against Los Angeles, compared with just one for the Dodgers. Mitchell’s go-ahead shot and Hamilton’s late homer showed that the Brewers could win with power when the situation demanded it.
Numbers Behind a Historic Season
Game 4 was Milwaukee’s 170th meaningful game of 2026, and the Brewers have won 110 of them. Their 103 regular-season victories established a franchise record and represented the best record in the majors.
They then defeated the Padres three times in the National League Division Series before sweeping the Dodgers. Milwaukee also became the first club in 103 years to lose a postseason series by sweep and sweep that same opponent the following October.
The Brewers have already produced six comeback victories in their first eight postseason games, another mark that reflects their resilience. Four more wins would deliver the first World Series championship in franchise history.
From Rebuilding Doubts to the Fall Classic
Milwaukee’s rise is even more striking when viewed against the organization’s recent history. Before owner Mark Attanasio’s group purchased the club ahead of the 2005 season, the Brewers had endured 12 consecutive losing campaigns.
A .500 record in Attanasio’s first season felt like a major step forward. The 2008 Wild Card appearance ended a 26-year playoff drought, while the 2011 club came within two victories of reaching the World Series.
The organization later endured a second-half collapse in 2014, a managerial change in 2015 and substantial turnover in its roster and front office. At one point, a frustrated supporter sent a blue-frosted cake to the stadium after Milwaukee won two games in early May, sarcastically celebrating the club’s escape from the bottom of the standings.
That same organization now owns the best winning percentage in baseball over the past three regular seasons under manager Pat Murphy. Assistant general manager Karl Mueller, who joined the Brewers in 2004, said the pennant still felt difficult to absorb. Baseball operations president Matt Arnold celebrated the achievement but immediately stressed the need to remain focused.
A Celebration Rooted in Franchise History
After Milwaukee won Game 3, Attanasio called 92-year-old Bud Selig at 10:50 p.m. Central time. Selig, who was too excited to sleep, repeatedly described the team as remarkable.
The 44-year wait also carries special meaning because Hank Aaron wore No. 44, including during his two seasons in Milwaukee. Aaron hit the final home run of his 755-homer career 50 years ago, and he later joined Uecker in supporting efforts to build Miller Park and keep the franchise in Wisconsin.
Several moments from this postseason have added to the feeling that the season was meant to be. Ty France’s ball glanced off the roof and landed in Chourio’s glove during the opening game of the Division Series. Mitchell made a difficult catch on a deep Manny Machado drive to end that series, while Jake Bauers turned down retirement in 2024 and produced a breakout season at age 30.
Now, Milwaukee has one final challenge. The Brewers are four victories away from their first championship, with the entire franchise carrying the memory of the 1982 club that reached the World Series but lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Supporters Followed the Team Across the Continent
Brewers fans filled Dodger Stadium for the clincher and remained in their seats to watch the team receive the Warren C. Giles Trophy. Some supporters travelled to Los Angeles with almost no planning.
Joe Stolarczyk watched Game 3 at Hog Creek Bar & Grill in Mosinee before deciding around 1 a.m. to fly to the deciding game. His brother David Stolarczyk and sister Mary Pilz joined him after friends failed to answer their calls. They bought tickets while driving toward a Minneapolis flight and reached seats behind home plate before batting practice ended.
Dave Wuest of Atlanta and Murray Williams of Orange County also made the trip. The lifelong friends have known each other since kindergarten and still remember Milwaukee’s 1982 Game 7 loss to St. Louis.
Yelich described the travelling crowd as electric. That energy will be needed again when the Brewers host the World Series opener in Wisconsin, 44 years after the franchise last reached baseball’s final stage.
