THEY’RE OUT!
Brewers eliminated from playoffs
ST. LOUIS - The manner in which the Milwaukee Brewers were eliminated from playoff contention was too painful for immediate perspective on the unexpected manner in which they battled until the next-tolast day of the season.
“Being two games out with two to play, we knew what was at stake coming in,” third baseman Travis Shaw said Saturday in a somber clubhouse after the Brewers blew a six-run lead and lost to St. Louis, 7-6, at Busch Stadium.
“Unfortunately, today we didn’t do our part, so it doesn’t really matter what happens out West. It’s disappointing but I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this team. It took 161 games (to eliminate them).”
With Milwaukee playing a late-afternoon game and Colorado a night game at home against the Dodgers, it was up to the Brewers to win and force the Rockies, who had a twogame lead, to do likewise to claim the last remaining playoff berth. And it appeared they would hold up their end when they took a 6-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
But, on another one of those “bullpen days” the Brewers resorted to in the final weeks to cover a void in the starting rotation, the overworked relief
corps finally ran out of steam. St. Louis scored three times in the eighth off Josh Hader and Anthony Swarzak to wipe out a 6-4 deficit.
“We were obviously in a position where we were going to have to have a bunch of guys do well,” said manager Craig Counsell, who went to his bullpen six times after starter Junior Guerra exited in a four-run third inning.
“We’re also counting on guys that are tired. They were giving everything they have but they’re tired. They wanted to be out there and I wanted them out there.
“We were six outs away and feeling good. They had some good atbats. Give them credit.”
Swarzak was one of those oft-used relievers and had worked two innings Thursday to help nail down a 4-3 victory over Cincinnati. He appreciated Counsell’s comments but refused to use weariness as an excuse for allowing a two-run, game-tying single to Stephen
Piscotty and goahead hit by Harrison Bader.
“I wasn’t tired,” Swarzak said. “I felt amped up and ready to go. I was just leaving the ball over the middle of the plate on bad counts.”
Piscotty originally was called out at second base trying to advance on his hit, but the Cardinals had it overturned on replay. It was that kind of day for the Brewers, who were hurt by some cheap hits in the four-run rally that allowed St. Louis to pull within 6-4.
“That’s baseball,” said Counsell, whose team had not blown a six-run lead all year.
The Brewers jumped to their 6-0 lead on the strength of a five-run outburst in the third off Cardinals starter Luke Weaver that included three consecutive notable hits. The first was an RBI double by Ryan Braun, who snapped out of a 1-for-20 slump that was part of a longer slide.
Shaw, who had been sitting on 99 RBI since his walk-off, two-run homer against the Chicago Cubs a week earlier, ripped a two-run single to center to move over the century mark, a stated preseason
goal. Domingo Santana followed with a two-run homer to center, allowing him to reach 30 for the season.
The Brewers would not score another run, however, despite having several chances to do so. BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
Had the Brewers remained in contention, right-hander Zach Davies would have taken his regular turn on the final day of the season. After being eliminated, Counsell decided to rest Davies and go instead with rookie Aaron Wilkerson.
TAKEAWAY
The Brewers wanted to win and force Colorado to win to claim the wild card. Instead, they blew a 6-0 lead and were eliminated before the Rockies took the field. RECORD
This year: 85-76 (46-38 home; 39-38 away)
Last year: 72-89 NEXT GAME
Sunday: Brewers at Cardinals, 2:15 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Aaron Wilkerson (0-0, 8.10) vs. St. Louis RHP Carlos Martinez (12-11, 3.64). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.