A bizarre sequence in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series saw Max Muncy’s 404-foot drive for the Los Angeles Dodgers, inches shy of a grand slam, morph into an unprecedented 8-6-2 double play orchestrated by the quick-thinking Milwaukee Brewers. This play, a rare feat in baseball history, left players and fans alike scratching their heads and cemented its place as one of the most incredible defensive moments of any postseason.
In the high-stakes environment of the National League Championship Series, every pitch and every play is scrutinized, but seldom does a moment unfold with such bewildering complexity as the fourth-inning double play that thwarted a potential Los Angeles Dodgers grand slam. What appeared to be a game-changing hit by Max Muncy quickly spiraled into a defensive masterpiece for the Milwaukee Brewers, etching an 8-6-2 double play into postseason lore.
The Anatomy of a Postseason Anomaly
The stage was set in the top of the fourth inning of NLCS Game 1 in Milwaukee. With the bases loaded and one out, Max Muncy stepped to the plate for the Dodgers, looking to open the scoring. He launched a deep drive to center field, a ball that traveled 404 feet, just shy of clearing the wall for a grand slam. What happened next, however, was a masterclass in heads-up baseball and a testament to knowing the rules.
Brewers center fielder Sal Frelick leaped and reached over the wall, attempting a spectacular catch. The ball popped out of his glove, hit the very top of the fence, and then he caught it in the air on the rebound. Crucially, because the ball struck the wall, Muncy was not out on the fly. However, the Dodgers‘ runners, including Teoscar Hernández on third and Will Smith on second, scrambled back to their respective bases, believing Frelick had made a clean catch. As Smith later admitted, “I didn’t see it hit the wall. I just thought he kind of brought it back in and caught it.”
Contreras’s Brilliant Execution: A Force Play Unfolds
This momentary confusion by the runners opened the door for the Brewers. Frelick, showing incredible presence of mind, immediately fired the ball to shortstop Joey Ortiz. Ortiz then relayed a lightning-quick strike to catcher William Contreras at home plate. Understanding that the ball hitting the wall meant it was still a live play and a force was in effect, Contreras didn’t prepare for a tag. Instead, he alertly stretched for the throw, keeping his right foot on home plate.
Contreras caught the ball just before Teoscar Hernández slid across the plate, resulting in the first force out. Hernández had hesitated at third, initially tagging up as if Frelick had caught the ball cleanly, then realizing his error and retreating. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the misstep, stating, “Teo knows the rule. I think right there he had just a little bit of a brain fart, appreciating that when it does hit the glove, you can tag (up) there. But then he tagged, did it correctly, then saw he didn’t catch it, (and) he went back. That was the mistake.”
But the Brewers’ defensive brilliance didn’t stop there. After the out at home, Contreras quickly got up and jogged to third base, forcing out Will Smith, who had also retreated to second base when he thought the ball was caught. This completed an incredibly rare 8-6-2 double play, wiping out the scoring threat and ending the inning.
The Aftermath: Reactions and Replay Review
The play left many, including Sal Frelick himself, with a quizzical look and arms outstretched, wondering what exactly had just transpired. The Dodgers challenged the call, but a replay review swiftly confirmed the force outs at home and third. Umpires had, in fact, called the play correctly in real-time, showcasing an impressive understanding of the complex rules.
Speaking through an interpreter, Contreras detailed his awareness: “From home plate, I had a pretty good view of it. I could tell pretty much right away it hit off the wall. Right away once it hits off the wall, you know that ball is played live. Tremendous job by the guys there just doing what we needed to do to finish that play off.”
While the Dodgers ultimately won 2-1 over the Brewers in Game 1, as reported by the Associated Press, the double play was undoubtedly the game’s most talked-about moment. Muncy himself summed it up from a player’s perspective: “It’s definitely the worst fielder’s choice/double play I’ve ever hit in my life.”
A Rare Feat in Baseball History
This particular type of double play, an 8-6-2, is incredibly rare. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there had not been an 8-6-2 double play in the postseason in over 35 years. In the regular season, such a play is also an anomaly, with the most recent notable instance involving a ball hit by Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa to Cincinnati center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. in April 2004, though that play concluded with a tag at the plate rather than a force out.
Furthermore, Statcast tracking, which began in 2015, revealed that Muncy’s 404-foot drive was the second-longest projected distance on a batted ball ever to result in a double play, including regular-season games. This statistical rarity only adds to the legendary status of the play, cementing its place as one of the most unexpected and thrilling defensive sequences in modern baseball history. The official scoring notes it as a “grounded-into-double play” for Muncy, despite the ball never touching the ground, highlighting the unique nature of the rules application.
The play quickly became a viral moment, with fans and analysts dissecting every angle and decision, confirming its status as one of the “incredible plays” in recent memory, as highlighted by MLB’s official account. It serves as a stark reminder that in baseball, even the most powerful hits can turn into improbable outs, and that split-second decisions and rule knowledge can profoundly impact the outcome of a game.
