Moose, Crew walk off
Moustakas delivers Game 1 winner with single in 10th
MILWAUKEE — Mike Moustaksas scored MVP front- runner Christian Yelich with a two-out single in the 10th inning and the Brewers bounced back to beat the Rockies 3-2 to open their NL Division Series on Thursday.
After giving up two runs in the ninth that made it 2-2, the Brewers regrouped and soon celebrated. Making their first postseason appearance since 2011, they won their ninth straight game overall.
Yelich hit a two-run homer in the third inning, then opened the 10th with a walk against Adam Ottavino. Yelich advanced to second on a wild pitch and came home on Moustakas’ line drive to right field.
The Brewers allowed just one hit over eight innings in a dominant bullpen game and led 2-0 before Jeremy Jeffress gave up three straight singles to open the ninth. Charlie Blackmon grounded an RBI single shortly after his groundrule double was overruled on replay review, and Nolan Arenado added a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to tie it.
In the history of fivegame series with the 2-2-1 format, teams that have won Game 1 at home have gone on to take the series 27 of 36 times (75 percent).
Young right- hander Brandon Woodruff not only made the playoff roster, he startied Game 1 as manager Craig Counsell went with a bullpen day.
Woodruff combined with fellow relievers Corbin Burnes, Corey Knebel and Josh Hader to hold the Rockies scoreless on one hit Mike Moustakas is swarmed by his Brewers teammates after winning Game 1 with a walk-off single in the 10th. Brewers lead 1-0 G1: Brewers 3, Rockies 2 (10) G2: Rockies (Anderson) at Brewers (Chacin) 4:15 p.m. Friday, FS1 G3: Brewers at Rockies 4:37 p.m. Sunday, MLBN G4: Brewers at Rockies TBD Monday, FS1 G5: Rockies at Brewers TBD Wednesday, FS1 Games 4-5 if necessary through the first eight innings.
The Rockies finally cashed in against closer Jeremy Jeffress in the ninth. Charlie Blackmon poked a run-scoring single through the right side before Nolan Arenado tied it with a sacrifice fly.
Yelich had given the Brewers the early lead with a two-run homer in the third.
Jhoulys Chacin (15-8, 3.50) is scheduled to take the hill in Game 2 on Friday, when he will be opposed by Tyler Anderson (7-9, 4.55).
The left-handed Anderson was formally added to the roster after being left off for the wild-card game, with the Rockies also adding German Marquez. Manager Bud Black said Marquez may pitch either in Game 3 on Sunday or Game 4 on Monday, if necessary.
Left off again for the NLDS was right-hander Jon Gray (12-9, 5.12) a strikeout pitcher whostruggled this season. Gray was the losing pitcher in the 2017 NL wild-card game, allowing four runs and seven hits in a 1 1/3 innings against Arizona.
Left-handers Wade Miley and Gio Gonzalez are the other starters on the Brewers' roster. Miley (5-2, 2.57) has pitched well in the second half, while Gonzalez is 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts after being acquired from the Washington Nationals.
Keon Broxton is on the NLDS roster to give Counsell a pinch runner.