Will Smith explained why he did not challenge two potential third strikes against Milwaukee Brewers infielder Brice Turang during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 7-4 loss in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday. Both plate appearances extended innings against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and contributed to Milwaukee scoring runs.
The Dodgers fell behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven series after losing the first two games in Milwaukee. Smith’s decisions became a talking point after Yamamoto exited in the third inning, having allowed three runs and struggled to get through the frame.
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Smith reviewed the pitches after the game and explained his thinking. He acknowledged that the walk in the third inning was frustrating but said he believed Yamamoto could still get Turang out.
“Yeah, I went back and looked. I don’t know if it clipped it or whatever. It was kind of early in the game. We kind of had him on the ropes where we could just get him out there. And the walk, the walk one was a bummer but I guess it happens. It’s baseball,” Smith said.
The first sequence came in the opening inning. Turang reached on a double after a pitch that appeared to catch the outside corner was called a ball. He subsequently scored on William Contreras’ single, helping Milwaukee respond after the Dodgers scored first.
The second came in the third inning, when Turang walked after another close pitch. Smith explained that Yamamoto’s splitter moved away from where he initially expected it to finish. Milwaukee extended the inning, and Christian Yelich followed with a two-run single that put the Brewers ahead 3-2.
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Yamamoto finished with 75 pitches over 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs before the Dodgers turned to their bullpen. The outing ended his streak of four consecutive postseason starts in which he pitched at least six innings and allowed no more than one run.
The Dodgers entered the series after finishing the regular season 100-62, while Milwaukee posted an MLB-best 103-59 record. The Brewers have now won both games at American Family Field, taking a 2-0 lead into the series’ move to Los Angeles.
Smith’s explanation provides context for two decisions that attracted attention, but the Dodgers’ loss involved more than the missed challenges. Their pitching struggled to contain Milwaukee’s offense, while their hitters managed only three hits in Game 2. Los Angeles will need a stronger performance across the lineup to get back into the series.
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Dodger Stadium, with Blake Snell expected to start for Los Angeles. The Dodgers must win to avoid falling into a 3-0 series deficit, while Milwaukee can move within one victory of its first World Series appearance since 1982.
