William Contreras gave Milwaukee three answers in one October night, and the Brewers rode every one of them to a 7-4 Game 2 victory over the Dodgers on Monday at American Family Field. With 42,516 fans turning each Brewers hit into a full-throated event, Milwaukee grabbed a 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series before the clubs head west.
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, with Dodger Stadium replacing the friendly noise Contreras and the Brewers enjoyed in Milwaukee. The Dodgers will have their home crowd, but they will also have to deal with a catcher playing as if every at-bat belongs to him.
Three pivotal hits from Milwaukee’s catcher
Contreras, 28, tied the score with a first-inning single on a pitch that appeared headed for the dirt. He pulled the Brewers even again in the fifth by launching a solo homer off the scoreboard. Then, after Los Angeles intentionally walked Brice Turang in the sixth, Contreras came up with the hit that put Milwaukee ahead for good, driving in another run with a single.
That made him only the fourth player to produce three game-tying or go-ahead hits in a single postseason game. The other names on that list are Sandy Alomar Jr., who did it for Cleveland in Game 4 of the 1997 ALCS; Steve Garvey for the Dodgers in Game 4 of the 1984 NLCS; and George Brett for Kansas City in Game 3 of the 1978 ALCS.
Rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt had a simple reaction when he heard where Contreras stood historically: “Fourth guy ever? That sounds pretty good.”
Contreras flipped his bat after the sixth-inning knock, showing the edge that has become familiar around the Milwaukee clubhouse. Pratt called him “Wild Bill,” praising his steady stream of big hits and describing him as a player who competes with a little anger.
Christian Yelich said Contreras seeks out those pressure spots and brings an intensity that spreads through the roster. Sal Frelick noted that Contreras was watching the Dodgers’ bench before the intentional walk was formally signaled. He recognized what was coming, prepared for the moment and delivered.
“That’s our pitbull,” Frelick said. “That’s our guy.”
A catcher built to stay in the lineup
Milwaukee did not acquire Contreras under easy circumstances. The December 2022 three-team trade that brought him from Atlanta initially left him unhappy about the move. He was nearly 25, already an All-Star, and wanted his agent to find a route back to the Braves.
Instead, he settled into a new home and became one of the Brewers’ constants. Contreras has appeared in at least 141 games in each of his four regular seasons with Milwaukee, while earning two additional All-Star selections as the National League’s starting catcher.
Manager Pat Murphy learned early that there was more beneath Contreras’ forceful personality. While Murphy was still the Brewers’ bench coach, he sought insight from Walt Weiss and heard that Contreras required some patience before revealing his better qualities.
What Milwaukee found was a player who wants to catch every day. Murphy said Contreras resisted designated-hitter days, disliked being taken out of the lineup and carries an unusual determination to play through anything. Murphy recalled that Contreras once played through a broken hand.
“Nobody wants it more,” Murphy said, adding that Contreras is driven beyond merely making an All-Star team. “He wants it all.”
The Brewers have learned when to rein in that competitive streak, and Contreras has continued to produce. He led Major League catchers in innings behind the plate this season, marking his third consecutive year with at least 1,000 innings at catcher.
He also drove in 94 runs, with 89 of those RBIs coming while he was catching. That total broke Ted Simmons’ franchise record for RBIs by a Brewers player in the game as catcher.
Contreras credited the organization for giving him the trust and room to play his own game.
“Milwaukee gave me confidence from the first day,” Contreras said. “I’m very appreciative of what the organization has done for me. I feel like I’ve had the best years of my career here.”
The contract question can wait
There will be a winter conversation eventually. Contreras will have one year of club control remaining after this season, leaving Milwaukee with the familiar choice of keeping a star through his final controllable year or moving him for younger talent.
The Brewers have previously dealt players such as Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta while balancing the need to contend with the need to replenish the system. They also kept shortstop Willy Adames until he reached free agency, a reminder that a different course remains possible with Contreras.
For now, the clubhouse is not entertaining those questions. Milwaukee has a two-game advantage, four relievers combined to retire all 15 Dodgers they faced in Game 2, and its catcher is carrying a hot bat into Los Angeles.
“We’re focused on the opportunity right in front of us,” Yelich said. “He is a huge part of this team. Nobody is thinking about next year. We have plenty happening in the present.”
