The Milwaukee Brewers have perfected the sweep in the National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies and are back in the NLCS for the first time since 2011. The Los Angeles Dodgers will have to wait for this step. The Atlanta Braves trembled to a game 4 in the series.
On a cold (approx. 8 degrees Celsius) Sunday afternoon in Denver/Colorado the Brewers presented themselves sovereign from the beginning. Christian Yelich was the first player on base (walk) and after a RBI fielder’s choice by Travis Shaw, he also scored the first run of the game.
In the fourth inning Jesus Aguilar increased with a home run to 2:0 for the guests who were once again worn by their strong pitching. Starter Wade Miley allowed over 4 2/3 innings only three hits and then handed over to the bullpen who held the shutout until the end.
Milwaukee scored two runs in the sixth and two runs in the ninth inning – the last two were back-to-back home runs of Francisco Arcia and Keon Broxton.
Altogether five Reliever were allowed to ran, whereby Josh Hader closed the door with two Outs at the end. Previously, the Rockies had provided a last rebellion with a double by Trevor Story and a walk by Matt Holliday.
The Brewers completed the sweep in the series and will play in the National League Championship Series for the second time after 2011. At that time they were defeated by the St. Louis Cardinals in six games. In 1982 they were again in the ALCS, which they won against the Angels, but then lost in seven games to the World Series – also against the Cardinals.
The NLCS starts next Friday in Milwaukee.
The Braves underlined their ambitions already in the second inning against Rookie-Pitcher Walker Buehler, who could hardly be overcome in game 1. With loaded bases and two outs, Braves starter Sean Newcomb of all people worked out a walk for the first run of the game. Ronald Acuna Jr. followed, who brought Atlanta into the lead with a 5:0 swing – Grand Slam!
However, the joy of this early offensive explosion did not last too long. The Dodgers kept calm and fought back directly in the third inning. Justin Turner hit a RBI single in the left field and thanks to an error from Acuna scored a second run.
In the fifth inning the guests even balanced out. After Chris Taylor initially shortened to 4:5 with a 2-run shot, it was Max Muncy who put his solo shot into the Center Field at 5:5.
In the sixth inning, the game even threatened to turn over completely: With one out Matt Kemp tried to score on a Fielder’s Choice by Kike Hernandez, but he was spotted on the record after Assist by Shortstop Charlie Culberson. The Dodgers then loaded the bases, but Taylor hit a ground out at the end of the inning.
So the Braves pulled the head out of the noose. Encouraged by this relief it was Freddie Freeman, who didn’t torch for long and directly brought the first pitch of Scott Alexander to the tribune in the Right Field – Homerun, 6:5 Atlanta!
Afterwards the bullpen of the Braves stopped, even if it made Closer Arody’s Vizcaino exciting again. With two men on base and no out, the right-handed player then managed three strikeouts against Muncy, Manny Machado and Brian Dozier.
Game 4 starts on Monday at 10.30 pm.
This article was published without prior review by Major League Baseball.