Brew Crew Extend Win Streak To 11
Brewers fans can prepare for Game 1 of the NLCS back at Miller Park as the Brew Crew are moving on.
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Colorado Rockies 6-0 on Sunday at Coors Field in Game 3 of the NLDS to win the series 3-0 and advance to the NLCS.
Behind their dominant pitching that for the series limited the Rockies to two runs and bats that have come alive, the Milwaukee Brewers run in October will continue.
The Brewers would get a stellar effort from left-hander Wade Miley and the bullpen would take care of the rest in chilly Denver, Colorado.
A combination of Corey Knebel, Joakim Soria, Corbin Burnes, Jeremy Jeffress and Josh Hader would help shut down the Rockies.
The Brewers would get 12 hits and capitalize on Colorado’s miscues to gain a significant edge over the their opponent.
Veteran catcher Eric Kratz would lead the way with three hits while left fielder Ryan Braun finished the game with two hits.
The Milwaukee Brewers NLCS appearance is just the second in franchise history and the first since 2011.
The franchise’s only World Series appearance came as an American League team back in 1982 when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
Milwaukee, aiming to end Colorado’s season on the road, would jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Travis Shaw’s RBI groundout scored Christian Yelich, who walked in his first at-bat.
That lead would grow to 2-0 following first baseman Jesus Aguilar hitting just the second home run for the Brewers this series as he took German Marquez deep to left field.
Wade Miley would be solid for the Brewers in his first career playoff start as he would toss four and two-third innings of scoreless ball.
He would be relieved by right-hander Corey Knebel with a runner on first and two outs as Knebel struck out Charlie Blackmon on three pitches to end the inning.
Bud Black’s Rockies season would continue to enter dangerous territory of being ended after the Brewers used a pair of mistakes by reliever Scott Oberg (balk, wild pitch) to take a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning.
The Brewers would look to be closing in on a NLCS birth rather easily after two runs in the ninth, but it would call on Josh Hader having to relieve Jeremy Jeffress.
Hader, with two men on with one out, would record the final two outs of the season as Ian Desmond flew out to center fielder Lorenzo Cain to end the game.
For the Colorado Rockies, it’s a abrupt end to a season that at its highest point saw the Rockies get their first playoff win since 2009 with a memorable 3-2 extra innings win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field last Tuesday.
Colorado had an opportunity last Monday to start a series at home at Coors Field with a NL West Tiebreaker game vs the Los Angeles Dodgers, but went on to lose the game.
The Rockies 6-13 mark vs the Los Angeles Dodgers this season ultimately cost them a chance at not only a matchup vs a more favorable Atlanta Braves team but home-field advantage as well.
Though a disappointing end, the Rockies are a team with plenty of promise moving forward as young pitchers like Kyle Freeland, Germán Márquez and Tyler Anderson got their first taste of the postseason and performed admirably.
The Milwaukee Brewers are rolling at a rate that makes them not just a favorite to win the NL, but a favorite to win the World Series.
In 28 innings vs the Colorado Rockies, the Brewers pitching limited the Rockies into a dreadful team batting average of .145 in the NLDS.
Milwaukee doesn’t beat themselves with errors defensively and doesn’t issue free passes to hitters. While not an offensive juggernaut, there’s enough offense for the Brewers to allow their pitching to do exactly what they accomplished in the NLDS.
While it’s eight more wins away from the first World Series title, the focus for Craig Counsell’s team is the very next one.
What are your thoughts on the Milwaukee Brewers advancing to the NLCS? Leave your comments below!