Milwaukee’s best has city set for party
MILWAUKEE — Summerfest continues in this city that really knows how to throw a party. More than 900,000 fans came to the annual music festival along the shores of Lake Michigan this summer, a party that attracted 800 bands and is billed as the world’s largest music festival. The party moved indoors Friday night. That was that kind of incredible energy in Miller Park on Friday night as the Brewers ran out to a 4-1 first-inning lead on the Dodgers and came away with a 7-2 victory in Game 6 to even the NLCS at 3-3 and force a Game 7 on Saturday night. “This was Fall Fest,’’ Brewers catcher Erik Kratz told The Post with a smile. Kratz got one of the Brewers’ three two-out hits in that first inning. “They love their team here. I would love for all the media that covers the game to just go out to the local mall and areas tomorrow and find people who don’t have something Milwaukee on them. They love their team, they love the city, but it’s not just the city it’s the whole state.’’ This was Cheesehead Heaven and Saturday night the Dodgers will be up against the same crowd and same remarkable Brewers bullpen that did not surrender a hit Friday night over 42/3 innings. Here’s the best part as far as the Brewers are concerned: Josh Hader, the ultimate bullpen weapon, did not have to pitch and will come into Game 7 fully rested. Danger ahead Dodgers. “Unbelievable,’’ Brewers starter Wade Miley said of the crowd. “When [Orlando] Arcia got the hit in the first inning and I had to go up to bat I could feel my chest getting tight it was so loud in here. The last time I ever heard anything that loud was here in 2011 in Game 5 [NLDS win over Ari- zona] and this was louder. It was impressive and hopefully we’ll do it again tomorrow.’’
The Brew Crew took a page from the Dodgers’ playbook stringing together hit after hit in the inning, using the entire field to score four times against Dodger starter Hyun-Jim Ryu. Sure, they are known for the “Opener’’ and all that bull-penning, but they didn’t bring lumber to Games 4 & 5. The Brewers produced only five hits in Game 5 at Dodger Stadium.
On Friday night they produced five hits with runners in scoring position.
In that first inning both Jesus Aguilar and Mike Moustakas had run-scoring doubles. The 43,619 fans came to wildly cheer their Brew Crew and boo Manny Machado, who became the villain of the series once he kicked Aguilar in the ankle as he crossed first base in the 10th inning of the Dodgers 2-1, 13-inning win in Game 4.
When the Dodgers were threatening to make a game of it in the fifth after an RBI-double by David Freese made it 5-2, and then a walk to Max Muncy put two men on, Corey Knebel induced Justin Turner to pop to center and that’s when the crowd became the Milwaukee Booers.
Machado came to the plate and the crowd was on its feet waving yellow towels and booing Machado as if he were a Cub. They got their wish as Machado swung through a high fastball to thunderous cheers. He also struck out in the first and went 0-for-4.
Machado, who you may remember is too cool to run hard on grounders, became so frustrated he let out a yell. Later, when asked about the boos and the “Manny Sucks’’ chants, he offered answers only about the game — not the crowd.
The Brewers produced the best home record in the NL at 51-30 this season and the fans will return Saturday night with a bigger buzz on for their beloved Brewers, who have only been to one World Series in franchise history. That was in 1982 and the Brewers were still in the American League. The Cardinals won that Game 7, 6-3. Saturday night, the Brewers and their fans get another chance to get back to the World Series.
“To have Game 7 in our house,’’ said reliever Jeremy Jeffress, “is probably the biggest advantage we are going to have.’’
They will be ready to blow the lid off Miller Park, Fall Fest will continue to rage.