Tuesday 9/25/18
25 September 2018 Sports
Sports from Wayne Mausser
Christian Yelih logged his 97th and 98th RBIs and Ryan Braun homered and drove in two runs as the Brewers beat the Cardinals 6-4 and closed to within 1 1/2 games of the National League Central-leading Cubs and pushed another game ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Wild Card standings. Milwaukee now leads St. Louis by three games and Colorado by 3 1/2 games and the Brewers magic number to clinch a postseason spot is down to three.
The twists and turns of Monday’s game, including a 31-minute rain delay in the seventh inning, overshadowed the Brewers’ surprise decision to scratch scheduled starter Chase Anderson in favor of left-handed reliever Dan Jennings, who threw just three pitches.
Eight other relievers followed including Freddy Peralta, who did the bulk of the work with 3 2/3 innings; Josh Hader, who surrendered three runs on a pair of Cardinals homers in a rainy sixth; and Joakim Soria and Corey Knebel, who covered the final six outs with closer Jeremy Jeffress unavailable because of neck spasms.
It all added up to a Brewers victory in part because the Cardinals kept stepping on themselves. Starter Jack Flaherty was outstanding until a sudden lapse of command in the top of the sixth, when he walked two batters and hit another before reliever Dakota Hudson took over and walked Braun, forcing in the first of two Brewers runs.
It was defense that let St. Louis down in the eighth, when the Brewers took the lead. An Eric Thames triple skipped past Cardinals right fielder Jose Martinez before an errant pickoff by Cards reliever Bud Norris provided the go-ahead run.
The Brewers’ victory sealed the eighth 90-win season in franchise history and guaranteed they will head home for the final series of the regular season in position for the first NL Wild Card.
Gio Gonzalez takes the mound for his fourth Milwaukee tonight against Cardinals left-hander Austin Gomber First pitch is at 7:15.
The Green Bay Packers lost at Washington on Sunday and in the process lost defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson when he sustained a season-ending ankle injury.
Wilkerson underwent surgery on his left ankle after the game in the Washington area, with Packers coach Mike McCarthy saying Monday that Wilkerson’s injury was ”significant.”
Wilkerson was engaged with one of Washington’s offensive linemen on a running play to Chris Thompson late in the first half. Safety Kentrell Brice missed the tackle and landed on Wilkerson’s ankle, sending the defensive lineman falling backward. He was carted off the field.
Monday Night Football
Pittsburgh 30, Tampa Bay 27
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