The Milwaukee Brewers took care of business on Sunday as they completed a three game sweep of the Colorado Rockies.
The Brewers took Game 1 in extra innings 3-2 from a walk-off single by Mike Moustakas. NL MVP Christian Yelich continued his assault on pitchers with a 2-run blast in the 3rd inning.
Better @Brewers slugger: @ChristianYelich or T-Rex Pennebaker? #NLDS pic.twitter.com/YBNyYxeVC6
— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2018
The Rockies battled back in the 9th inning. Gerardo Parra and Matt Holiday led off with singles and but it was Charlie Blackmon’s single that drove in their first run of the game. Nolan Arenado hit a sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Garret Hampson to tie the game at 2. After a Yelich walk, Moustakas was able to drive him in with 2 outs to take Game 1.
MOOOOOOOOOSE.@Brewers walk off in #NLDS Game 1! pic.twitter.com/1ooXQT5ERH
— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2018
For Game 2, the Brewers shut out the Rockies 4-0. Hernan put the Brewers on the board with a 4th inning ground-rule double. Moustakas ripped a bases loaded single in the 8th to extend the lead to 2. Then Eric Kratz came up with the big double to break things open as the Brewers took Game 2. The 38-year old became the oldest position player to make his postseason debut.
Game 3 was another shutout win for the Brewers this time winning 6-0. Travis Shaw hit into a fielder’s choice to score Christian Yelich for the first run of the game. Jesus Aguilar ripped a solo shot in the 4th inning to put the Brewers up 2-0. In the 6th Moustakas scored off a balk by Rockies pitcher Scott Oberg where he accidentally dropped the ball on the mound. Oberg then proceeded to throw a wild pitch to bring in Kratz to make it 4-0. Orlando Arica and Keon Buxton hit back-to-back homers in the 9th to put the game out of reach.
King Kratz mic’d up for the final out. ? pic.twitter.com/fSbvfZ1MJU
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2018
The Rockies offense struggled mightily throughout this series. Their best players were nowhere to be found. Third baseman Nolan Arenado went 2 for 11 with 5 strikeouts. Charlie Blackmon went 1 for 12 with 1 strikeout. Trevor story went 2 for 12 with 6 strikeouts. The Rockies pitching staff managed fairly well against the strong offense of the Brewers but when you fail to put up runs it sucks the energy from the team.
Milwaukee’s bullpen was fantastic this series. Even with the Brewers going with a bullpen game for Game 1, they managed to allow only 8 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 22 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings pitched.
For the first time since 2011, the Milwaukee Brewers are heading to the NLCS. In 2011, the lost to the Cardinals in six games. The Brewers will host the winner of the Dodgers vs. Braves series which will begin Friday October 12.
Featured image via Flickr/Michael Napoleon
