AROUND THE HORN

Brewers: The Brewers clinched their second NL Central title in four years, beating the sloppy Mets 8-4 on Sunday in Milwaukee behind Willy Adames’s two-run homer and three RBIs. Josh Hader pitched a perfect ninth inning, retiring Brandon Nimmo on a game-ending flyout to left fielder Christian Yelich and sending the Brewers running onto the field to celebrate as the crowd of 43,430 erupted into cheers. The Bucks completed a three-game sweep and sent the skidding Mets to their 10th loss in 11 games. A day after the Mets were eliminated from playoff contention in their first season under new owner Steven Cohen, the Mets (73-82) made three errors and were assured of a losing season for the fourth time in five years. The Brewers, who also won the NL Central in 2011 and ’18, already was assured of their fourth straight postseason berth. After losing at the wild card stage in 2019 and ’20, the Brewers will rest after the end of the regular season before starting the NLDS on Oct. 8. Freddy Peralta (10-5) won for the first time since Aug. 10, ending a skid in which he went 0-2 in five starts. He allowed four runs and five hits in 5 innings. Peralta entered with a .162 opponents batting average, on track to be the best since 1920.

Cardinals: Make it a very sweet 16 for the Cardinals. Andrew Knizner scored the go-ahead run on Codi Heuer’s wild pitch in the ninth, and the visiting Cards beat the lowly Cubs 4-2 for their 16th straight victory. The Cards’ franchise-record streak is the longest in the majors since the Indians took 22 in a row in 2017, and the best in the NL since the New York Giants won 16 straight in 1951 on their way to an improbable pennant. Paul Goldschmidt and Harrison Bader homered to extend a streak that has rocketed the Cards into position for the second NL wild card, leading the Phillies and Reds by six games with six to go.

Phillies: Starter Hans Crouse gave up a HR to Cole Tucker on his first major league pitch and the

Phillies’ playoff hopes took a hit with a 6-0 loss to Max Kranick and the Pirates. The Phillies, who had won five in a row, began the day trailing NL East-leading Braves by 1

games. The Braves’ game against the Padres ended too late for this edition. The Phillies visit the Braves for a three-game series starting Tuesday night. Bryce Harper and the Phillies finished the home portion of their schedule with a record of 47-34. Crouse (0-1) began his big league career with a fastball that Tucker hit into the right field seats for his first home run of the season. The Phillies chose to call up Crouse from the minor leagues rather than throw an actual bullpen game. The 23-year-old righty gave up two hits and walked four in three innings. Crouse was acquired by the Phillies at the trade deadline from the Rangers along with Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy for pitcher Spencer Howard.

Blue Jays: Danny Jansen hit a go-ahead, three-run HR, George Springer also went deep and the Blue Jays beat the Twins 5-2 to maintain pressure in the AL wild-card race. The Jays will enter the final week one game back for the second AL wild card. The Yankees and Red Sox were tied for the wild-card lead heading into their game Sunday night, which ended too late for this edition. The Jays won the final two games of the four-game series. They next host three-game series against Yankees and Orioles. Alek Manoah (8-2) won his third straight start, giving up two runs and six hits in 5 innings with eight strikeouts and two walks. The rookie has 25 strikeouts in his last three outings. Manoah and three relievers combined to strike out 15.

Athletics: SS Elvis Andrus was put on the 10-day injured list a day after breaking his left leg while scoring the winning run against the Astros. The A’s also placed INF Jed Lowrie on the IL with a sprained right hand. Andrus singled leading off the bottom of the ninth Saturday and scored from first when Starling Marte lined a double into right-center. Andrus stumbled rounding third and barely made it to home plate.