Brewers blank Rockies for sweep

DENVER— Wade Miley pitched masterfully into the fifth inning before turning it over to a lights-out Milwaukee bullpen, 38-year-old catcher Erik Kratz kept up his torrid hitting and the Brewers beat the Colorado Rockies 6-0 in Game 3 on a cool, misty Sunday to sweep their NL Division Series. The Brewers have won 11 straight dating to the regular season and advance to their first NL Championship Series since 2011. They will play the winner of the Dodgers-Braves series, starting Friday at Miller Park.

With manager Craig Counsell making all the right moves, Milwaukee’s pitching staff held Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story and the bruising Rockies to a combined two runs and14 hits in the series. Of the 28 innings in the matchup, wild card Colorado scored in only one of them.

Making his post-season debut, Miley toughed the elements — he wore short sleeves when the temperature was 46 degrees — and was even tougher on Rockies hitters. The wily left-hander allowed three hits over 42⁄ innings.

A procession of five Brewers relievers allowed one hit the rest of the way. With two on, Josh Hader got Ian Desmond to fly out to end the ninth and start an on-field celebration.

The first one to greet Hader was Kratz, who made his second post-season start and finished 3 for 4 with a double. Acquired from the New York Yankees in May, the former Blue Jay is making quite a name for himself in the playoffs. He went 5 for 8 in the series.

“Our pitching staff doesn’t get enough credit,” said Kratz, who was doused over and over with sparkling wine.