Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang was a bruised thigh away from tying Game 1 of the NLCS on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Turang made the final out as the Dodgers escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning to secure a 2-1 win over the Brewers in front of a stunned crowd at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis. Turang struck out on a high heater that flew several inches above the zone.
But it was the game’s penultimate pitch that had Turang feeling immense regret after the game. The 25-year-old got out of the way of what would have been a game-tying hit-by-pitch. A downtrodden Turang spoke about his at-bat after the game.
“It sucks. It is what it is. Natural reaction to kind of get out of the way,” the Brewers infielder told reporters. “I mean, there’s nothing I can do. I can’t go back.
“I was looking up at the top of the zone for the sinker-sweeper that he’s thrown, and he threw me a four-seamer, and it took off. Yeah, it is what it is.”
Brice Turang on the last two pitches of the game:
— Scott Grodsky (@ScottGrodsky) October 14, 2025
"It sucks. It is what it is. Natural reaction to kindof get out of the way and there's nothing I can do, I can't go back." https://t.co/50LOucFQv1 pic.twitter.com/VtV5lHgPgO
The missed opportunity may have done double damage against Turang. The miscue on the near-HBP possibly rattled him enough to swing on the strikeout pitch that was nowhere close to the zone.
Brewers head coach Pat Murphy also referred to Turang’s actions as a “natural reaction” and defended his player from criticism.
Milwaukee’s supporters weren’t exactly as understanding. Several Brewers fans called Turang out after the game for not putting his body on the line to give his team a chance.
