The Milwaukee Brewers made a strong start and held on for a 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers to force a deciding seventh game for the National League Championship Series.

The win saw the Brewers level up the playoff 3-3 and keep their hopes alive of meeting the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.

David Freese had opened scoring for the visitors at Miller Park on Friday, putting LA one ahead with a home run.

But the Brewers responded with a four-point raid, initiated by a two-runner off the bat of Jesus Aguilar.

He then made it home after Mike Moustakas’ effort at the plate, who in turn was seen back to the dugout with a point by Erik Kratz.

In the second inning, Ryan Braun added to Milwaukee’s total with a double that saw Christian Yelich score.

LA managed to claw one back in the fifth, again with Freese’s input, as his double saw Brian Dozier back in and the score 5-2.

But Milwaukee pulled way ahead with a point in the seventh after a wild pitch by Kenta Maeda, which was followed in the eighth with a single by Aguilar.

The teams will play their tiebreaker game back at Miller Park on Saturday.