What happened: Milwaukee waited all postseason for a big swing from its second baseman, and it came in the fourth inning of the opener. The opposite-field drive off Skubal evened the game at 1-1 amid a sharp outing from Skubal and a shaky start from Jacob Misiorowski.

Why it matters: An early answer against an ace keeps Game 1 from tilting toward a road stranglehold. It shifts bullpen sequencing toward the middle innings with the score level.

What to watch: Watch whether Milwaukee builds on the breakthrough before Skubal settles back in.