MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — Blake Snell delivered a masterful performance, striking out 10 over eight dominant innings of one-hit ball, and Freddie Freeman provided the crucial offensive spark as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Monday in a tense Game 1 of their National League playoff series.

A crowd of 41,737 at American Family Field watched a classic postseason pitchers’ duel that wasn’t decided until the final pitch. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Snell, the winning pitcher, was virtually untouchable, allowing only a third-inning single to Caleb Durbin and two walks. He retired the final 16 batters he faced, overpowering a Brewers lineup that managed just two hits all night.

The game was a scoreless stalemate until the sixth inning. Facing reliever Abner Uribe, Freeman broke the deadlock by launching a solo home run to right field, his first of the postseason, to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

Los Angeles added a critical insurance run in the top of the ninth in a chaotic inning. Max Muncy walked and Enrique Hernández singled before Andy Pages advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk to Shohei Ohtani loaded the bases, Mookie Betts worked a bases-loaded walk from Uribe to force in Muncy and make it 2-0.

That run proved vital as the Brewers mounted a dramatic rally in the bottom of the ninth against Dodgers reliever Roki Sasaki. Isaac Collins walked and pinch-hitter Jake Bauers followed with a ground-rule double, putting runners on second and third. Jackson Chourio then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Collins and cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Sasaki then walked Christian Yelich and William Contreras to load the bases, prompting the Dodgers to bring in Blake Treinen from the bullpen. Treinen escaped the jam by striking out Brice Turang swinging on a full count to end the game and secure his third save of the season.

The loss went to Brewers starter Chad Patrick, who fell to 3-9 on the year. The Brewers’ pitching staff, however, was largely effective. Quinn Priester started and threw four scoreless innings, allowing three hits. Relievers Jared Koenig, Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill combined for 3 2/3 hitless innings before Uribe surrendered the two late runs.

The game was a stark contrast to the teams’ regular-season meetings, where the Brewers won five of six, and defied pregame projections that favored a high-scoring affair. The Dodgers improved to 99-70, while the 100-68 Brewers saw their potent offense silenced by Snell’s brilliance.

The series continues Tuesday in Milwaukee. The Dodgers will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead before the scene shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday.