The Diamondbacks knocked the Brewers out of the postseason with a 5-2 comeback win over Milwaukee at American Family Field on Wednesday. It was Arizona’s first postseason series (of at least two games) win since 2007. Here’s what you need to know:
- The Diamondbacks struggled to generate much at the plate prior to Alek Thomas’ home run in the top of the fifth inning but took control with four runs in the sixth. They’d ride that lead through the final innings and into the next round of the playoffs.
- The Brewers were without starter Brandon Woodruff, who is dealing with a a right shoulder capsular injury.
- Arizona will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series beginning Saturday.
Diamondbacks catch fire at perfect time
The Diamondbacks staggered into the playoffs on a four-game losing streak, unable to scratch more than one run across in each other final four regular season games. The bats got hot at the right time, however. Such was the case on Wednesday night. Brewers starter Freddy Peralta held them without a hit through 4 2/3 innings. Then Thomas opened the floodgates with a homer that barely cleared the right field wall.
The first four batters reached in the sixth inning, and the rest was history. All of a sudden, Arizona looks like a dangerous team headed into Los Angeles. They’ll have Merrill Kelly lined up for Game 1, and could theoretically go back to Zac Gallen in Game 2 on four days rest.
Making a run in this postseason will be a heavy lift, without a doubt. But they have put themselves in a very good position. Postseason baseball will be back in Arizona for the first time since 2017. — Sam Blum, Los Angeles Angels writer
Brewers fizzle out of postseason
This is a massive disappointment for Milwaukee. Not only did their postseason last all of 27 hours, but they coughed up multi-run leads in both games. The Brewers had such a good regular season, running away with the division in September. Their pitching, save for the injury to Woodruff, was all set up for a deep postseason run.
Milwaukee has never won a World Series. They haven’t played in one since 1982. There was some hope this team could change that. But it didn’t even come close.
The offense was always this team’s question mark. And it couldn’t complete the late comeback either night, despite having ample chances. On Tuesday, a bases loaded, no-outs chance was squandered in the fifth. On Wednesday, a bases loaded, one-out situation resulted in zero eighth-inning runs.
The attention now turns to Craig Counsell. Will the free agent skipper be back for his 10th season in Milwaukee? — Blum
Required reading
(Photo: Patrick McDermott / Getty)