Brewers sweep, lock up playoff spot

ST. LOUIS — The Brewers clinched their first playoff spot since 2011 on Wednesday night, ensuring at least a spot in the NL wild-card game, thanks in part to a rookie pinch runner suddenly falling on his way to the plate in a 2-1 win over the Cardinals.

Jhoulys Chacin pitched five shutout innings, and Travis Shaw hit a pair of RBI singles as the Brewers completed a three-game sweep of the Cardinals.

The Cardinals missed a big chance to tie it in the eighth inning. Matt Carpenter walked and was lifted for pinch runner Adolis Garcia. Jose Martinez then hit a slow roller to third baseman Mike Moustakas, who threw wildly to first.

Garcia was waved home but fell halfway to the plate, allowing second baseman Hernan Perez to easily throw him out to end the inning.

Chacin (15-8), who had lost his last three decisions, gave up one run on just one hit over five innings. He needed a season-low 60 pitches and faced three batters over the minimum.

Xavier Cedeno, Corbin Burnes, Josh Hader and Jeremy Jeffress combined for four shutout innings as the Brewers held the Cardinals to two hits.

Cardinals starter John Gant stranded runners in each of his first four innings before being lifted with one out in the fifth. It is the fourth time in his last five starts that Gant failed to go more than 41⁄ innings.

The Brewers now return to Miller Park to take on the lowly Tigers in a three-game series starting Friday to end the season. The Cardinals travel to face the Cubs for a three-game set.

The Brewers advanced to the NL Championship Series in 2011 before being eliminated in six games by the eventual World Series champion Cardinals.