Milwaukee Brewers
MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) — Daniel Vogelbach cashed in the scenario every kid dreams about when they start playing ball.
The Brewer’s first baseman was called on to pinch-hit with the bases loaded in the 9th inning, and on the second pitch he faced he took a 97 MPH sinker that didn’t sink and smacked it for a game-winning grand slam to cap off a five-run inning and a 6-5 win.
Vogelbach’s tater came after Luke Maile singled to center to score Jackie Bradley Jr. Those runs were the first Milwaukee had scored since the second when they took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run from Pablo Reyes.
Reyes and Jace Peterson each finished the game with two hits. Eduardo Escobar lead all batters with three hits, a walk, and a run scored.
Vogelbach’s heroics let Corbin Burns off the hook. The Brewers starter was chased after five innings in which he allowed six hits and three earned runs. He was in line for the loss as he left the game with Milwaukee trailing 3-1. Instead, it was Miguel Sanchez picking up the win after he pitched a scoreless 9th allowing one hit and striking out two.
It was Milwaukee’s 35th come-from-behind win of the season. The win combined with Detroit’s win over Cincinnati reduced the Brewers’ magic number to 14 to clinch the division. Meaning any combination of 14 wins by the Brewers and losses by the Reds would give Milwaukee the division title.
The Reds and Brewers have nearly identical schedules for the remainder of the season. Both teams have off days on the 9th, 13th, and 27th. Though the Reds do have one extra game, or “game in hand,” over the Crew.
The soonest the Brewers could clinch would be September 15th against Detroit- but that assumes Brewer wins and Reds losses for every game between now and then. A more likely scenario would have them winning the division at home the week of September 20th, knock on wood.
The Brewers will host the Philadelphia Phillies for the first of three on Monday. It’s a special Labor Day matinee game, with pregame at 12:35 and first pitch at 1:10.
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