Baseball just witnessed one of its most mind-boggling moments, and it’s a play that will leave fans scratching their heads for years to come. In a jaw-dropping sequence during Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, the Milwaukee Brewers executed a double play so bizarre, it’s already being called one of the most confusing—and brilliant—plays in postseason history. But here’s where it gets controversial: Did the Dodgers’ baserunners make a critical mistake, or was this simply a stroke of defensive genius by the Brewers? Let’s break it down.
Even if neither the Los Angeles Dodgers nor the Milwaukee Brewers hoist the World Series trophy this year, this play alone ensures their place in baseball’s highlight reels for decades. It all unfolded in the top of the fourth inning, with the game still scoreless and the Dodgers threatening with the bases loaded and one out. Max Muncy, the Dodgers’ third baseman, crushed a deep fly ball to left-center field, setting the stage for chaos.
Brewers center fielder Sal Frelick, positioned toward right-center, gave it his all, sprinting and leaping toward the wall in a bid for a spectacular catch. And this is the part most people miss: The ball grazed his glove, bounced off the yellow line at the top of the wall, and remained in play—a detail the Dodgers’ baserunners, hundreds of feet away, seemed to overlook. Thinking Frelick had made the catch, they hesitated, and that hesitation proved costly.
Frelick, realizing the ball was still live, fired it to shortstop Joey Ortiz, who relayed a perfect throw to the plate. Catcher William Contreras tagged out Teoscar Hernández for the first out. But the play didn’t end there. Contreras then calmly walked to third base, where Will Smith, who had failed to advance from second, was forced out for the second out of the inning. Was this a baserunning blunder or a defensive masterclass?
‘It’s definitely the worst fielder’s choice, double play I’ve ever hit into in my life,’ Muncy admitted afterward. Even the players were left bewildered. ‘I’m still kind of confused as to what all went down,’ Muncy added, echoing the sentiment of everyone watching.
Scored as an 8-6-2 double play, this sequence is a rarity—the first of its kind in the playoffs in at least 35 years. The last time something similar happened was in 2004, involving Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa. Even the umpires got it right on the first call, a decision upheld by replay review despite the Dodgers’ challenge.
But here’s the question that’s sparking debate: Could the Dodgers’ baserunners have avoided this outcome? Or was the Brewers’ execution simply too flawless to overcome? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—was this a mistake by the Dodgers or a masterpiece by the Brewers?
