MILWAUKEE -- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had a hunch about David Freese in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Friday night.
Roberts started Freese at leadoff for just the fourth time in his 10-year career and the first time since 2016 -- ostensibly with matchups on his mind, but maybe history, too. Freese promptly opened the game by crushing a home run to right-center field against Brewers left-hander Wade Miley at Miller Park.
Freese doubled in the fifth inning to plate Los Angeles' only other run in the 7-2 loss to Milwaukee, resulting in a decisive Game 7 tonight.

Freese has hit nine home runs in his postseason career, three of them in Game 6s. He went 3-for-4 with one home run and three RBIs in Game 6 of the 2011 NLCS, when the Cardinals beat the Brewers to clinch a trip to the World Series. Freese went 2-for-5 with one triple, one home run and three RBIs in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, when the Cards beat the Rangers in 11 innings, 10-9.
Freese tripled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to score two runs and tie the game against Texas. He then hit a walk-off homer against Mark Lowe in the 11th to win it.
Freese left the game in the fifth when pitcher Alex Wood entered the game, taking his spot in the lineup.