BALTIMORE – With another late-inning rally – two, actually – the Brewers moved closer to clinching a well-deserved vacation before the start of their postseason push.
Jackson Chourio belted a three-run home run for a second-inning lead and stole two more bases to leave him only one shy of a third straight 20-20 season. William Contreras and Christian Yelich delivered run-scoring hits in the ninth inning, and Sal Frelick pushed the Brewers ahead again in the 10th for a 6-5 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards.
It lowered the number of wins Milwaukee needs to clinch a first-round bye over Atlanta to three, meaning any combination of three Brewers wins and Braves losses would secure at worst the No. 2 seed in the National League playoff field. The Brewers (96-58) are aiming higher, trying to hold off the Dodgers for the best record in the NL and the Rays for MLB’s best overall record to ensure home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Victory No. 96, one shy of the Brewers' franchise record set last season, did not come easily. They had to overcome Pete Alonso’s tying three-run homer off Dustin May back in the third inning of May’s abbreviated start, then had to overcome Trevor Megill’s first blown save since June 5.
But it’s not the first time the Brewers have gotten the job done late. Their 14 victories this season after being tied or trailing after eight innings are tied for third-most in the Majors.