Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-13 · by Steve Megargee The Associated Press
Story summary
William Contreras hit a tying home run in the fifth and an RBI single in the sixth as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-4 in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, taking a 2-0 series lead. The Dodgers' offense struggled, managing just three hits and going 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who started for the Dodgers, was pulled after pitching 2⅔ innings and giving up four runs on four hits. Despite Los Angeles tacking on three more runs after his departure, they couldn't match the Brewers' performance, leaving them needing a significant turnaround to avoid elimination in Game 3. The Dodgers last rallied from a 2-0 deficit in 2020 when they won the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves before winning the World Series. Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith combined for an 0-for-8 day at the plate, further highlighting the offensive struggles of the team. Milwaukee's bullpen retired all 15 batters they faced after Contreras’s home run, showcasing their dominance in relief pitching. The Brewers now have a chance to advance to their first World Series since 1982 if they can win one more game against the Dodgers.
Written for “Brewers vs Dodgers NLCS Game 2” on 2026-10-13,
grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.
The Brewers catcher hit his third homer of the postseason on Monday night, a majestic, 436-foot shot that tied the score in the fifth inning of Milwaukee’s 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series.
asserted
that → hit → Series
The three-time All-Star took his time rounding the bases, just as he did each time he went deep in the NL Division Series.
asserted
he → take → Series
MLB posted a video of Contreras rounding the bases, and it appeared to take him roughly 35 seconds.
asserted
it → post → seconds
“More than anything, I try to enjoy the moment,” Contreras said through interpreter Daniel de Mondesert.
asserted
Contreras → try → Mondesert
“I think doing it, it’s most importantly for my teammates.
asserted
it → think → teammates
For them to feel the energy, feel the vibes, and for us to feel that together.
asserted
us → feel → that
It’s for the teammates and to keep us going.
asserted
It → ’ → us
Contreras keeps giving the Brewers reasons to celebrate.
asserted
Contreras → give → reasons
Homer wasn’t Contreras’ only big hit in Game 2
Conteras went 3 for 4 with three RBIs as the Brewers took 2-0 series lead.
asserted
Brewers → go → lead
He has gone 9 for 23 with four walks this postseason, good for a .481 on-base percentage and a 1.264 OPS.
asserted
He → go → percentage
“He wants to compete every single day, every moment,” Brewers captain Christian Yelich said.
asserted
Yelich → want → ?
“(He) does a great job handling the pitching staff.
asserted
He → do → staff
He’s the fire of our team, just likes the moments, likes the big moments.
asserted
He → ’ → moments
We’ve got all the confidence in the world in him when he’s out there, whether that’s behind the plate or at the plate.
asserted
that → get → plate
That fire was evident from the way Contreras came through in the sixth inning.
asserted
Contreras → come → inning
Contreras singled home a run against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the first inning and homered in the fifth off Kris Bubic to tie the game at 4-all.
asserted
Contreras → single → 4
The Brewers had a runner on third with one out in the sixth when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts intentionally walked Brice Turang to set up a possible double play.
asserted
Roberts → have → play
That brought up Contreras, who hit an RBI single off Brock Stewart.
asserted
who → bring → Stewart
“I took it as motivation,” Contreras said.
asserted
Contreras → take → motivation
“That was a decision that their manager took, and then I just tried not to get too big or do anything too much.
asserted
I → take → anything
I wanted to put the ball in play.
asserted
I → want → play
I knew it was a big run there.”
asserted
it → know → ?
Contreras’ competitive fire drives the Brewers
Contreras has been providing that kind of spark since the Brewers acquired him from Atlanta in 2022.
asserted
Brewers → drive → 2022
The Venezuela native — whose older brother, Willson, is a slugging first baseman for the Boston Red Sox — won a World Series with the Braves the prior season.
asserted
brother → slug → Braves
He posted an OPS over .800 each of his first two seasons in Milwaukee and finished fifth in the NL MVP balloting in 2024.
asserted
He → post → 2024
Contreras also set an example with his work ethic.
asserted
Contreras → set → ethic
Manager Pat Murphy recalled how Contreras wanted to catch every game.
asserted
Contreras → recall → game
“(He) was ticked if I ever DH’d him,” Murphy said.
asserted
Murphy → tick → him
“He just wanted to be in there.
asserted
He → want → ?
This kid wants it.
asserted
kid → want → it
He doesn’t believe in days off.
asserted
He → believe → days
He doesn’t believe in being injured.
asserted
He → believe → ?
He played one year with a broken hand.
asserted
He → play → hand
And he wants to excel.
asserted
he → want → ?
It’s not enough for him to make the All-Star team.
asserted
him → ’ → team
He wants to excel.
asserted
He → want → ?
He wants it all.
asserted
He → want → it
He’s driven to a point where sometimes you have to intervene.”
asserted
you → drive → point
After hitting his drive over the center-field wall Monday, Contreras laid his bat down and faced the Brewers dugout as he walked to first base.
asserted
he → hit → base
He paused after rounding second base and gestured as he faced the outfield and wall.
asserted
he → pause → outfield
…and 9 more, not listed.
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