Blake Snell’s gem hits the Dodgers’ NLCS opener over the Brewers

MILWAUKEE — Dominating an opponent in the regular season usually means little, if anything, for a rematch in the playoffs.

Just ask the 2015 Mets, who went winless in seven games against the Cubs during the regular season before sweeping four of them in the NLCS to earn a spot in the World Series.

This year’s Dodgers lost all six regular-season games to the Brewers, but on Monday night, the redemption tour began for the defending World Series champions.

Blake Snell’s left arm handed her. Confirming the Dodgers’ decision to sign him last season, Snell faced a minimum of 24 batters over eight innings in his team’s 2-1 win in Game 1 of the NLCS at American Family Field.

The Brewers rallied in the ninth against the Dodgers bullpen, but left the bases loaded in the end after scoring a single against Roki Sasaki.

Caleb Durbin’s single to lead off third was the Brewers’ only base runner against Snell. But Durbin was caught first — he was officially caught stealing — and the Brewers went quietly until Snell left. Snell set a career high in the postseason with 10 strikeouts during his 103-pitch night.

Yellow rally towels and an enthusiastic crowd — excited about the Brewers’ first NLCS appearance in seven years — can provide a lot of energy for the home team.

Max Muncy was inches away from a grand slam in the fourth but instead saw a deep fly to center field turn into Double play at the end of the inning.

Sal Frelick tampered with Muncy’s shot near the top of the fence, where the ball hit the liner before coming to rest in Frelick’s glove. Teoscar Hernandez, who had dropped back to third base to ground and then hesitated, was thrown out at the plate on a power play before catcher William Contreras walked to third base and forced Will Smith, who was staying close to second, to end the inning.

The Dodgers wasted another chance in the fifth inning, when Quinn Priester forced Mookie Betts into an inning-ending double play after Enrique Hernández doubled off the frame.

Freddie Freeman was back at number six in the first run of the game. It was the first postseason blast for Freeman, who dominated last year’s World Series with a four-hitter against the Yankees.

Freeman doubled in the eighth against Trevor Miguel but was stranded at third base. Betts drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning that increased the Dodgers’ lead.

Sasaki, who moved into the closer’s role after spending the regular season in the Dodgers’ starting rotation, could only get two outs in the ninth inning, allowing one run before being removed with runners on the corners. Blake Treinen walked Contreras to load the bases before Bryce Turang struck out to end the drama.