Shohei Ohtani at No. 6, a lone single, and the Dodgers staring at elimination

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Slumping Shohei Ohtani singled after being dropped to sixth in the order for the Los Angeles Dodgers, whose 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series put them on the brink of postseason elimination on Wednesday night.

It's the lowest the left-handed hitting Ohtani has hit since joining the Dodgers three years ago on a $700 million, 10-year contract. Manager Dave Roberts wanted to alternate right- and left-handed hitters throughout the lineup against Milwaukee's left-handed starter Robert Gasser.

”Shohei’s all on board," Roberts said before the game. “Whatever it takes to win.”

It wasn't enough, and now the two-time defending World Series champions trail 3-0 in the best-of-seven series.

Ohtani flied out in the second, got hit by a pitch in the fourth and walked in the sixth before singling with two outs in the eighth. The Dodgers had runners on base in all but three innings.

“We’re just not getting those timely hits,” Roberts said afterward. “We’ve had some opportunities with guys on base, but can’t get that hit.”

Ohtani, the designated hitter, is typically atop the order, but Roberts has dropped him lower during a slump that has extended into the postseason. Ohtani has been struggling with left knee and right biceps issues for a few months, and said before the National League Division Series that he's not 100% healthy.

During his six years with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani started games batting sixth or lower 19 times, all during the 2020 season or earlier.

Ohtani is hitting .182 (4 for 22) over seven postseason games. He has seven strikeouts, four walks and one stolen base with no home runs, no RBIs and an OPS of .533.

He hasn’t homered since Aug. 18 at Colorado.

“I couldn’t imagine really kind of having the expectations that he has and falling short in a way that it’s not normal for him,” teammate Mookie Betts said before the game. “Then having to come back and be present in this postseason knowing how important he is to the boys.”

Roberts said he saw a more focused Ohtani during off-day batting practice Tuesday.

“He was determined, and that’s an understatement,” the manager said. “He was here late last night working on his swing, out with the guys and talking about things on how we're going to beat these guys.”

Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow, set to start Game 4 on Thursday, said Ohtani's demeanor doesn't deviate regardless of how well he's performing.

“I think most people put in that situation, you’d have a lot more emotional volatility, so it’s just impressive to see him just be a good dude always,” Glasnow said. “I don’t think he needs reassurance or anything. He’s confident in himself. It’s just business as usual and a lot of smiles and the same laugh.”

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is hit by pitch during the fourth inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani follows through on a base hit during the eighth inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is hit by a pitch during the fourth inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts to being walked during the sixth inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani smiles while waiting by the batting cage during a workout ahead of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani walks toward the dugout during a workout ahead of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani enters the batting cage during a workout ahead of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell hit back-to-back homers off Blake Snell to regain the lead in the seventh inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 on Wednesday to take a 3-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.

Los Angeles had just taken a 2-1 lead in the sixth before getting stunned. The loss pushed the two-time defending World Series champions to the brink of elimination.

The only other time the Dodgers trailed 3-0 in a best-of-seven postseason series, they were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 World Series.

Game 4 is Thursday at Dodger Stadium, where the Brewers can become the first major league club to complete a postseason sweep after getting swept by that same opponent in the previous postseason. Los Angeles took all four games against Milwaukee in the NLCS last year.

The only team in big league history to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a postseason series was the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees.

Coming into the seventh, Snell had retired 14 batters in a row. The first pitch of the game thrown by the two-time Cy Young Award winner was hit for a home run by Jackson Chourio, and his last pitch was Mitchell's solo shot.

Andrew Vaughn drew a seven-pitch walk to open the inning and was replaced by pinch-runner Christian Yelich. Bauers followed with a 412-foot shot to right field on the 11th pitch of the at-bat for a 3-2 lead as most of the players in Milwaukee's dugout came onto the field to celebrate.

Mitchell was next and his drive traveled 428 feet to right-center. That chased Snell, who hadn't given up a home run in 46 1/3 innings this year entering the game. It was only the second time in his career the left-hander served up multiple home runs to left-handed hitters in one game.

And it was the latest relentless plate appearance for Bauers, who drew a 12-pitch walk from Yoshinobu Yamamoto that helped the Brewers go ahead early in Game 3.

Milwaukee, which has never beaten the Dodgers in three previous playoff series, is chasing its second pennant and first in the National League. The Brewers were in the American League when they reached their only World Series, a seven-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.

Snell gave up four runs and four hits in six innings, struck out nine and walked two.

The Brewers extended the lead to 5-2 in the eighth on Justin Wrobleski's wild pitch that scored Brice Turang, who reached on an infield single and advanced to third on William Contreras' single. They added another run on Joey Ortiz's two-strike RBI single in the ninth.

The offensively starved Dodgers took their first lead, 2-1, on Will Smith's two-run double off reliever Abner Uribe in the sixth.

Uribe followed rookie starter Robert Gasser and he loaded the bases on walks to Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Shohei Ohtani. Smith, who was 1 for 25 in the playoffs, doubled off the left-center fence for his first hit of the NLCS.

DL Hall took over from Uribe and stranded runners at second and third by striking out pinch-hitter Kiké Hernández and Tommy Edman.

Hall allowed one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings to improve to 3-0 in these playoffs. Trevor Megill got four outs for his second save of the series and fourth this postseason.

The Dodgers played from behind again after the 22-year-old Chourio connected for his third career leadoff homer as fans were still heading to their seats.

After that, Mitchell walked and Cooper Pratt singled in the second before Snell retired 14 in a row — six on strikeouts — before getting hammered in the seventh.

The Dodgers had runners on base in all but three innings, but couldn't get enough across. They have yet to homer in the NLCS.

Ohtani was 1 for 2 with a walk while hitting sixth in the order, the lowest he's batted since joining the Dodgers three years ago.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell catches a fly out hit by Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman during the fifth inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell walks off the mound during the seventh inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio watches his solo home run take flight during the first inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell yells towards his dugout after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers connects for a two run home run during the seventh inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)