What a heart-pounding moment in baseball history: Freddy Peralta stood just one out away from etching his name into the record books with his very first postseason quality start, leaving fans on the edge of their seats! But let's dive into the drama behind this near-miss in Milwaukee, where the Milwaukee Brewers battled the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.
Picture this: Back in Spring Training, Brewers manager Pat Murphy pulled Freddy Peralta aside for a candid chat. For years, Peralta had been part of a powerhouse trio of starters alongside Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff. However, Burnes was traded before the 2024 season, and Woodruff is still rehabbing from shoulder surgery. That left Peralta stepping up as the undisputed leader of the pitching staff. 'You're the guy. You're coming into the year as the ace,' Murphy recalled telling him. 'And the ace has to deliver.'
Fast-forward to the postseason, and Murphy's words ring even truer. The Brewers are down to just one-and-a-half reliable starters – or maybe two at most, as Murphy put it before Game 1. Peralta, their clear No. 1, is carrying a heavy load. But here's where it gets controversial: Is betting the farm on one ace sustainable in today's high-stakes playoffs, or should teams spread the wealth more evenly to avoid burnout? Fans are divided on whether trading a star like Burnes was a savvy move or a risky gamble that could haunt the team.
In Game 2 at American Family Field on Tuesday, Peralta wasn't flawless, but he kept the Brewers in contention with a solid 5 and 2/3 innings pitched. The Dodgers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Teoscar Hernández launched a towering solo home run with one out. Then, Los Angeles extended their advantage: Kiké Hernández, batting eighth, singled with two outs, and Andy Pages drove him home with a double to right field.
Yet, Peralta regrouped brilliantly after that shaky start. He shut down the Dodgers for the next three innings, scattering just one hit and posting zeros on the board in the third, fourth, and fifth. Eager for more, he begged Murphy to let him pitch a sixth inning, as reported by TNT Sports sideline reporter Lauren Shehadi during the broadcast. Murphy agreed, and Peralta struck out Freddie Freeman and retired Justin Smith to start the frame. He was now just one out from six full innings – a milestone that would have marked his first postseason quality start in six career playoff outings.
And this is the part most people miss: Quality starts aren't just about innings; they represent a pitcher's ability to keep games close, allowing no more than three earned runs. For beginners in baseball, think of it as a benchmark for dominance, like hitting a home run in clutch moments. But Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy had other plans. He crushed a home run to straightaway center, blowing the score to 3-1 and forcing Peralta out after 97 pitches. What's more, Muncy's 14th career postseason homer shattered the Dodgers' franchise record, adding insult to injury for Brewers fans.
As the series heads to Dodger Stadium, one has to wonder: Can Peralta seize that elusive quality start next time, or will controversies like the Burnes trade weigh on the team's chances? Do you agree that Muncy's record-breaker was just timely hitting, or is there more to it, like pressure on the Brewers' bullpen? Share your opinions in the comments – are you rooting for Peralta to shine, or do you see the Dodgers cruising to victory? Let's discuss!
