The unsung Brewers rookie hero who somehow got better of Tarik Skubal to beat Dodgers in NLCS Game 1

The Milwaukee Brewers opened the National League Championship Series with a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday at American Family Field. While rising star Brice Turang's home run helped Milwaukee get on the scoreboard , it was rookie Luis Lara who came through in the clutch against Tarik Skubal , the two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.

Making his first NLCS start, the 21-year-old drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning, helping the Brewers draw first blood over the defending World Series champions.

Lara entered Game 1 with just 61 games of major-league experience after making his debut in early July. He had recorded a .246/.311/.325 batting line during his first season in the majors, but Milwaukee trusted him to start in right field with Skubal on the mound, because of his switch-hitting ability.

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The outfielders first plate appearance offered little indication of what was coming. Batting eighth, Lara struck out against a 97.6 mph sinker above the strike zone after seeing four pitches from the veteran southpaw.

However, his next opportunity was where the game turned on its head.

Garrett Mitchell opened the bottom of the fifth with a four-pitch walk before fellow rookie Cooper Pratt advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Lara then attacked the first pitch he saw, sending Skubal's changeup up the middle into center field. Mitchell scored without a throw, giving Milwaukee a 2-1 advantage that it maintained through the final out.

Skubal exited after five innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking two. A 25-pitch fifth inning contributed to his early departure.

Lara's breakthrough came after an impressive run at Triple-A Nashville, where he compiled a .321/.432/.470 slash line across his first 78 games. His progress at the plate, combined with his defensive ability, helped earn him a seven-year, $31 million contract during the season. He had also won a minor-league Gold Glove the previous year.

The Brewers once again relied on their steady bullpen after starter Jacob Misiorowski couldn't make it through five innings. The right-hander surrendered five hits and three walks while striking out five over 4⅓ innings. Shohei Ohtani scored in the second on an Andy Pages single, but Milwaukee prevented further damage with an inning-ending double play after Los Angeles loaded the bases.

The Brewers' bullpen subsequently pitched 4⅔ scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. Aaron Ashby contributed two innings and extended his scoreless postseason stretch to 7⅔ innings.

Trevor Megill earned the save despite walking Kyle Tucker and pinch-hitter Josue De Paula with two outs in the ninth. He finished the game by inducing a deep fly ball from Mookie Betts that was caught near the center-field warning track.

Milwaukee has more reason to celebrate after being swept by the Dodgers in last year's NLCS without ever leading in a single inning. The Brewers are now seeking their first World Series appearance since 1982.