Brewers top Reds, close within two
MILWAUKEE» The Brewers headed to St. Louis still battling for the last available playoff berth.
Milwaukee closed within two games of the Rockies for the National League’s second wild card with three games left, rallying to beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 on Thursday as Brett Phillips hit a go-ahead double in the sixth inning.
“This team is relentless. We keep fighting,” Phillips said. “These are must-win games. Going to St. Louis for three, we owe it to each other to play hard and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Milwaukee (84-75) closes the regular season at St. Louis, and the Rockies host the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Brewers are ensured their best record since finishing 96-66 in 2011, when they lost to the Cardinals in the NL Championship Series — Milwaukee’s last playoff appearance.
“To take it to the last weekend, it means a lot,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “That we’re jumping on a plane with three games left and with some possibilities is exciting and welldeserved for those guys.”
After Cincinnati tied the score in the sixth inning on RBI singles by Scooter Gennett against starter Brent Suter and Jesse Winkler off Oliver Drake, Jared Hughes (5-3) entered with two runners on base. The Reds loaded the bases when the reliever bobbled Jose Peraza’s bunt for an error.
Hughes struck out Adam Duvall and got Stuart Turner to ground into a double play.
“That was my best shot — throwing a strike and getting a ball put in play,” Hughes said. “It just so happened that it worked out that way.”
Anthony Swarzak worked around three walks in two hitless innings, and closer Corey Knebel struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 39th save in 45 chances. CUBS 2, CARDINALS 1. ST. LOUIS The Cardinals were eliminated from postseason contention when Leonys Martin leaped at the center-field fence to rob Paul DeJong of a tying home run with two outs in the 11th inning, preserving the Chicago Cubs’ victory over St. Louis on Thursday night.
St. Louis, which went 5-14 against its longtime archrival, missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2007 and 2008. At 82-77, the Cardinals are ensured their fewest wins since going 78-84 in 2007.