The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the Fall Classic for the first time in 44 years after rallying from a four-run deficit to defeat the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-4, and complete a four-game sweep of the National League Championship Series on Thursday night.

The Brewers faced an early uphill battle after Los Angeles jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Shohei Ohtani launched a three-run home run to help put the Dodgers in control, threatening to extend their championship run as they pursued a third consecutive World Series title.

Milwaukee refused to fold. Jake Bauers helped spark the comeback with a two-run double before drawing a bases-loaded walk that tied the game. His performance continued a productive postseason run that earned him NLCS Most Valuable Player honors.

With the score tied 4-4 in the sixth inning, Garrett Mitchell delivered the decisive blow. After falling behind 0-2 against Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott, Mitchell worked the count full before crushing a 409-foot solo home run to center field, giving Milwaukee its first lead of the night. Mitchell had also homered in the Brewers’ 6-2 victory in Game 3.

Milwaukee added an insurance run in the ninth when David Hamilton hit a two-out solo home run off Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz, extending the lead to 6-4. Hamilton entered the game with just four home runs during the regular season.

The Brewers’ bullpen then closed the door. Milwaukee’s relievers held Los Angeles scoreless over the final seven innings. Aaron Ashby delivered three scoreless innings to help secure the victory.

Bauers finished the four-game series with four hits in 14 at-bats, six RBIs and a home run. His two-run double and game-tying walk in Game 4 helped turn the contest around, while his go-ahead, two-run homer in Game 3 proved critical to Milwaukee’s sweep.

The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the Brewers, who were eliminated by the Dodgers in the postseason last year. Milwaukee won the first three games of this year’s NLCS before finishing the job in Los Angeles. The Dodgers had been seeking their third consecutive World Series championship, but Milwaukee’s combination of timely hitting and dominant relief pitching ended that pursuit.

Milwaukee’s only previous World Series appearance came in 1982, when the franchise still competed in the American League and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. Now the Brewers have another opportunity to capture the franchise’s first World Series championship.

The Brewers will face the winner of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays. Game 1 of the World Series is scheduled for October 23, with Milwaukee set to host the Fall Classic for the first time in franchise history.