May helps Brewers take 2-0 NLCS lead

Former Northwest pitcher Dustin May is one step closer to claiming his second career World Series title.

The former Texan allowed no hits and struck out one in a 1-inning relief appearance, as the Milwaukee Brewers earned a 7-4 win over the 2-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers Monday at American Family Field, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.

Drawing a no-decision, May relieved Brewers starter Logan Henderson, who gave up four runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts and two walks in four innings.

Milwaukee trailed 4-3 after May was pulled for reliever JoJo Romero after the top of the fifth inning. Catcher William Contreras tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run, and then added a RBI single to score third baseman David Hamilton in the sixth to give the Brewers a 5-4 lead.

The Brewers clinched the win with a 2-run eighth inning. With one out, second baseman Brice Turang brought home Hamilton on a RBI single. Contreras then walked, followed by a RBI base hit by fire baseman Jake Bauers to drive in Turang.

Romero earned the win in Game 2, throwing two strikeouts in a scoreless inning of work. Reliever Abner Uribe (2 Ks, 1.1 IP) earned the hold, while closer Aaron Ashby (2 Ks, 1.2 IP) collected the save.

May is 0-0 in two appearances in the 2026 MLB Postseason, and holds a 4.50 earned run average. He’s allowed two runs on three hits in four innings, and has struck out four and walked two while holding opponents to a .231 batting average.

On Aug. 3, May — along with Romero — was traded to the Brewers by the St. Louis Cardinals at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline. Milwaukee traded away outfield prospects Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale.

The trade was the second time May has been dealt at the deadline. In 2025, he was traded from the Dodgers to the Boston Red Sox n exchange for outfielders James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard.

Prior to the 2026 season, May signed a 1-year, $12.5 million contract with the Cardinals, with a mutual option for the 2027 season.

In his 2026 campaign, May made 31 combined starts for the Cardinals and the Brewers, finishing 7-9 with a 4.70 ERA, tallying 144 strikeouts and 50 walks in 145.2 innings.

May — selected by Los Angeles in the third round (101st overall pick) of the 2016 MLB Draft after graduating from Northwest — helped the Dodgers claim the 2020 World Series title at Globe Life Field in Arlington. He allowed three runs on five hits in three innings with three strikeouts in two games, as Los Angeles defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the best-of-seven series, 4-2.

Game 3 of the NLCS is scheduled for 7 p.m. (local time) Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, followed by Game 4 8 p.m. Thursday.

If necessary, Game 5 is slated for Friday in Los Angeles, while Games 6 and 7 are scheduled for Sunday and Monday in Milwaukee. Game times were not available for Games 5-7 as of story publication.