The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-4 in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Monday, October 12, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and putting the two-time defending World Series champions under early pressure.

Catcher William Contreras led Milwaukee’s offense with three hits and three RBIs, delivering both the game-tying home run in the fifth inning and the go-ahead single in the sixth. The Brewers finished with 12 hits, while Los Angeles managed just three.

The Dodgers struck first when Teoscar Hernández hit a sacrifice fly in the opening inning to score Mookie Betts. Milwaukee answered with an RBI single from Contreras to tie the game at 1-1.

The teams traded leads through the middle innings. After a throwing error helped Los Angeles move ahead, Christian Yelich delivered a two-run single in the third to put Milwaukee in front 3-2. The Dodgers tied the game in the fifth on another throwing error before Freddie Freeman’s sacrifice fly gave Los Angeles a 4-3 advantage.

Contreras responded with a solo home run to center field to tie the game again. In the sixth, his single to left field brought home David Hamilton and put the Brewers ahead for good.

Milwaukee added insurance in the eighth inning on RBI singles from Brice Turang and Jake Bauers, extending the lead to 7-4.

The Brewers’ bullpen then shut the door. Four relievers combined to retire all 15 Dodgers batters they faced over the final five innings, with Aaron Ashby recording the save after striking out Miguel Rojas to end the game. JoJo Romero earned the victory, while Brock Stewart took the loss.

Los Angeles starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto lasted just 2 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs on four hits and two walks. Milwaukee starter Logan Henderson allowed four runs, though two were unearned, over four innings.

The Dodgers’ limited offense proved costly. Freeman and Hernández each drove in a run on sacrifice flies, but Los Angeles could not produce a hit to bring home any of its other runs.

The series now shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Wednesday, with Blake Snell expected to start for the Dodgers as they attempt to climb back into the series. Milwaukee, meanwhile, has put itself within two victories of its first World Series appearance since 1982.