A high-stakes matchup between the top two teams in the National League turned into a frustrating night for the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Despite a historic milestone from pinch-hitter Max Muncy, the Dodgers suffered a 5-4 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers after closer Edwin Díaz was hit hard in the ninth inning, allowing three runs to blow his third save in his last four relief appearances.
The loss dropped the Dodgers to 73-49 on the season, narrowing their cushion in the pennant chase, while the Brewers improved to 75-47 to solidify their standing atop the National League leaderboard. The defeat underscored ongoing bullpen volatility for Los Angeles as the regular season enters its critical final Stretch.
Late-Inning Meltdown and Díaz’s Struggles
The Dodgers entered the ninth inning holding a 4-2 lead, putting Díaz in position to secure the series opener. However, the right-handed closer struggled with his command and slider execution. After securing the first out, Díaz yielded four consecutive singles to the Brewers’ lineup. Milwaukee outfielder Garrett Mitchell delivered the key blow, lining an inside slider into right field to tie the game at 4-4.
Díaz managed to collect a second strikeout, but manager Dave Roberts summoned left-handed reliever Alex Vesia from the bullpen with runners on first and second. Vesia coaxed a ground ball from Milwaukee’s Jake Bauers toward the right side, but the ball found a gap in the infield shift, driving home the go-ahead run. Díaz was charged with three earned runs on four hits over two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss and leaving his high-leverage role under heavy scrutiny. The Dodgers were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
Historic Milestone for Max Muncy
Prior to the ninth-inning collapse, the evening had been defined by a historic moment for veteran infielder Max Muncy. Left out of the starting lineup alongside Mookie Betts, Muncy was called upon as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runners aboard and the Dodgers trailing 2-1.
Battling against Milwaukee right-hander Antonio Senzatela, Muncy worked a full count before turning on a 100-mph fastball. He launched a 426-foot blast into the right-field pavilion, giving Los Angeles a temporary 4-2 lead. The homer was Muncy’s 131st career home run at Dodger Stadium, breaking a long-standing franchise record previously held by former Los Angeles first baseman Eric Karros.
Karros, broadcasting the game on SportsNet LA, congratulated Muncy during the live telecast, celebrating his achievement as the absolute all-time home run leader at Chavez Ravine. However, the joyous milestone was eclipsed by the bullpen’s inability to maintain the advantage in the final frame.
Sasaki’s Command Issues and Lineup Nuances
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki delivered a mixed performance across six innings. Coming into the game with a 1.88 ERA across four post-All-Star Break starts, Sasaki struggled with his secondary pitches, frequently spiking his splitter and losing his footing on the mound. While he held Milwaukee to a single hit through the first three innings, Sasaki unraveled during a wild fourth inning.
In that frame, Sasaki walked Andrew Vaughn, gave up a single to Christian Yelich, and issued back-to-back bases-loaded walks to Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton, handing Milwaukee an early 2-0 lead. Sasaki limited the damage by striking out Jackson Chourio and proceeded to complete six full innings without yielding further runs. The Dodgers cut the deficit to 2-1 in the fifth inning on an RBI single by catcher Ben Rortvedt before Muncy’s sixth-inning blast provided the brief lead.
The Dodgers played without Mookie Betts in the starting lineup, while veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman started despite suffering multiple contusions in a fall into the visitor’s dugout the previous evening. Freeman went on to play after clearing physical checks, reassuring team staff that he had avoided head trauma.
Pennant Race Stakes and Looking Ahead
This four-game series between Los Angeles and Milwaukee carries major implications for postseason home-field advantage across the National League. With the Brewers leading the season series 2-1 prior to Thursday’s opener, Milwaukee’s comeback victory expands their edge over the Dodgers in both head-to-head records and overall winning percentage.
As the series continues at Dodger Stadium, the focus shifts to how management addresses the back end of the bullpen. With Díaz surrendering earned runs in three of his last four outings since returning from the injured list, the Dodgers face pressing tactical decisions regarding high-leverage closing situations heading into late August.