Brewers: 3 Times the Ball Didn't Bounce the Crew's Way in the NLWCS

Play #2: Zac Gallen Snatches a Sal Frelick Liner, Ending the Brewers' Scoring Threat

The Brewers got to Zac Gallen early in Game Two. They put up two runs in the first inning, and they made Gallen walk the tight rope from the get-go.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Brewers had a chance to inflate Gallen's pitch count and build upon their 2-0 lead. After a leadoff groundout from William Contreras, a couple of singles from Carlos Santana and Mark Canha put runners on first and second with just one man out. Sal Frelick came to the plate, hoping to deal a fatal blow and burst the game wide open.

On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Frelick hit a scorcher back up the middle on a low and away 95-mph fastball. The ball left his bat at 102.3 mph, and the batted ball had an expected batting average of .590. At the crack of the bat, it felt like Milwaukee was going to drive in another run, amplifying their scoring threat with Willy Adames on deck.

Instead, Zac Gallen flashed his quick reflexes, and he was able to get his glove on the ball as it crossed the mound. The ball took the glove right off of Gallen's hand, and he was able to recover in time to fire a throw to Geraldo Perdomo at second base to initiate an inning-ending double play.

Frelick made strong contact with the pitch, but Gallen made a great play and extinguished an essential scoring threat by Milwaukee's offense.