Brewers outperform preseason expectations again to win 3rd NL Central title in 4 years

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have grown accustomed to clinching playoff berths just about every year, but this latest celebration differed from the rest because it was so unexpected.

“It was like nobody thought we were going to be here today,” shortstop Willy Adames said Wednesday after the Brewers won their third NL Central title in four years. “Now we’re here. I don’t know what they’re going to say after this."

Milwaukee became the first major league team to reach the postseason Wednesday afternoon when the Chicago Cubs' 5-3 home loss to the Oakland Athletics enabled the Brewers to wrap up the division crown.

The Brewers' clubhouse emptied of players with one out to go in the ninth inning in Chicago, a couple of hours before Milwaukee's scheduled first pitch against Philadelphia. A muffled cheer could be heard after the final out when the Brewers won consecutive division titles for the first time in 42 years.

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said he watched the final outs of the Cubs' game with 90-year-old longtime Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker.

“We were doing our show and I watched it with him,” Murphy said. “What's better than that? Awesome.”

The party began in earnest Wednesday night after Jake Bauers' ninth-inning RBI single gave the Brewers a 2-1 victory over the Phillies. Blue-and-gold streamers fell into the American Family Field stands as the team gathered in shallow center field.

That led to a champagne-soaked celebration in the locker room before players returned to the field to pose for a team picture while receiving a standing ovation from the fans who stuck around.

Not everyone could drink the champagne. Rookie outfielder Jackson Chourio is still only 20 years old.

“I think maybe I'll grab a Coke or something,” Chourio joked through a translator.

This marks the Brewers’ sixth postseason berth in the last seven years, a remarkable accomplishment for a small-market team that made the playoffs just twice in a 35-year stretch from 1983-2017.

Although the Brewers have made a habit of outperforming preseason expectations, the odds seemed stacked against them even more than usual this year.

Craig Counsell, the winningest manager in Brewers history, left for the rival Cubs last offseason. Corbin Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner, was traded to the Baltimore Orioles.

Two-time All-Star right-hander Brandon Woodruff didn’t pitch all year as he recovered from shoulder surgery, and two-time NL reliever of the year Devin Williams missed the first half of the season with stress fractures in his back. All-Star outfielder Christian Yelich and pitchers Wade Miley and Robert Gasser went down with season-ending injuries.

None of it stopped Milwaukee.

“You can do all that to us, but it’s still about people, and you have no idea what their best is,” Murphy said. “These guys don’t know what their best is and didn’t know what their best was and still don’t. But they know one thing: Pulling together, competing, being doubted is something that can vault you forward into a championship.”

The Brewers took over first place for good at the end of April and never looked back. Now they've won back-to-back division titles for the first time since 1981-82. That 1982 season marked Milwaukee's lone World Series appearance, which ended with a seven-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Milwaukee benefited from the leadership of Murphy, who had been Counsell’s bench coach since 2016. Rather than following Counsell to Chicago, Murphy stayed in Milwaukee and got his first full-time opportunity as a major league manager two weeks before his 65th birthday. Murphy’s only previous MLB managerial experience had come as an interim skipper with San Diego in 2015.

Murphy has kept the locker room loose while guiding a team that hasn’t lost more than three straight games at any point this season. The Brewers are the only club that hasn’t had a losing streak of at least four games.

“He’s brought the edge that we play with,” Williams said. “We’re ready to fight every day.”

The Brewers have succeeded with what Murphy refers to as an “all-hands-on-deck” approach.

Milwaukee has used 17 starting pitchers this season (only the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Angels had more). Twelve different Brewers pitchers have earned a save, two shy of the record of 14 set by the 2021 Tampa Bay Rays. Milwaukee entered Wednesday with a 3.65 ERA that ranked fourth in the majors.

The Brewers relied largely on their pitching the last few seasons and ultimately came up short in the playoffs, as they’ve lost nine of their last 10 postseason games. This year’s Brewers lineup appears to pack more punch.

Milwaukee entered Wednesday ranked fourth in runs (733) and 11th in OPS (.735) after finishing 17th in runs (728) and 23rd in OPS (.704) last year.

Yelich was leading the NL in batting average (.315) and on-base percentage (.406) before back issues ended his season in late July. William Contreras has developed into one of the game’s best-hitting catchers. Adames is the first Brewers shortstop to have a 30-homer, 100-RBI season, something even Hall of Famer Robin Yount never accomplished in Milwaukee. Chourio is the youngest player to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases in one season.

“This is exactly what you as a competitor want to be a part of, right?” first baseman Rhys Hoskins said. “It didn’t necessarily look exactly the way that maybe some of us thought, but what’s cool is that we still were able to find ways to get the job done.”

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Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio is douced after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Enoli Paredes is douced after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio is douced after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Willy Adames douces Enoli Paredes after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Freddy Peralta is douced after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Milwaukee Brewers annopuncer Bob Uecker celebrates after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Willy Adames douces Enoli Paredes after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Willy Adames is douced after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 2-1 and clinched the National League Central division. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy is seen during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras reacts after hitting a two-run scoring double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras reacts after hitting a two-run scoring double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tarik Skubal allowed three hits over five innings for his 17th win and the streaking Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Wednesday night to move within a half game of a playoff spot with 10 games remaining.

Riley Greene hit a go-ahead home run as the Tigers (80-73) won their fourth straight and ninth in the last 11 games. With the series sweep, Detroit won for the 25th time in 35 games to move within a half game of Minnesota (80-72) for the third AL wild-card spot.

“These guys, first of all we believe, and second we come every day to try to win the game, and we are winning a lot, which is fun to watch these guys learn and grow and compete until the end of the game,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.

Skubal (17-4), who has won his last five decisions, made his case for the AL Cy Young Award stronger by matching Atlanta’s Chris Sale for the major league lead in wins and lowered his AL-leading earned run average to 2.48. He walked one and struck out seven.

“Really proud of the guys. Last time we came here we were on the other side of the sweep,” Skubal said. “We’ve got a great group, a resilient group. I mean if you just look at the season that we’ve had, I think it shows in this series.”

Skubal had struggled against the Royals in the past, entering Wednesday with a 2-9 record and 5.05 ERA in 12 starts over 14 appearances. After allowing three hits and Yuli Gurriel’s two-out RBI single in the first inning, he threw four hitless innings.

“We put some good at-bats on him early, but once he got the runs, five of the next six hitters were 0-2 counts. He’s coming after us,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Skubal. “But that’s how he pitches. He’s not picking at the corners. He’s got elite stuff and he knows it.”

Skubal screamed after striking out Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez with two on for his final out in the fifth.

“For me it’s always about executing pitches,” Skubal said. “If I can execute pitches at a high clip, I like my chances against anybody, no matter how many times they’ve seen me."

Hinch was happy to see his ace battle through 95 pitches though he wasn’t as sharp as his previous starts.

“It was a big fight for him, but he did a great job,” Hinch said. “Sometimes five is enough, and he did his job by getting the biggest out against his biggest nemesis and showed a ton of emotion. ... If he somehow isn’t able to make pitches to Salvy, who has been good against him, this game’s completely different. He’s our guy. We needed our guy to do his part, and he did."

The Royals (82-71), who lost their fourth straight, were swept for the first time at home this season and the third time overall. They remained 2 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the first wild-card spot and 1 1/2 games ahead of Minnesota for the second wild card. The Orioles and Twins both lost earlier Wednesday.

Skubal struck out major league batting leader Bobby Witt Jr. twice before hitting him with a pitch in the fifth. Witt, who became the first player in major league history with multiple seasons of 30 home runs and 30 steals in his first three seasons Tuesday, broke Hal McRae’s 1977 franchise record with his 87th extra-base hit of the season with a bloop double to lead off the eighth.

Perez then drove in Witt with a single off reliever Brenan Hanifee. Sean Guenther preserved the 4-2 lead with a double play and a fly out. Guenther got the first out of the ninth and Will Vest got the final two for his second save.

Royals starter Alec Marsh (8-9), coming off a career-high 11 strikeouts in his last start, lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks.

Perez and Gurriel, who is hitting .385 since the Royals acquired him from Atlanta, each had two hits for the Royals.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: Rookie 3B Colt Keith is day to day after reinjuring his right shoulder in Tuesday’s game on a diving attempt in the field. He has had a right shoulder problem in three straight seasons. He did not play Wednesday, but Hinch said he would hit in the batting cage during the game. “It could have been much worse,” Hinch said.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Detroit has not announced a starter for Friday’s series opener at Baltimore.

Royals: RHP Michael Wacha (13-7, 3.29) is scheduled to start Friday’s home series opener against San Francisco. Wacha is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in nine career starts against the Giants and 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA this season at home.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Detroit Tigers' Jace Jung (17) beats the tag by Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez to score on a double by Trey Sweeney during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Detroit Tigers' Jace Jung reacts after striking out with the bases loaded during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Alec Marsh throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Detroit Tigers' Trey Sweeney watches his two-run double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Detroit Tigers right fielder Wenceel Perez catches a fly ball for the out on Kansas City Royals' Tommy Pham during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. reacts after being hit by a pitch thrown by Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Detroit Tigers' Jace Jung runs home to score on a double by Trey Sweeney during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Detroit Tigers' Jace Jung (17) beats the tag by Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez to score on a double by Trey Sweeney during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Detroit Tigers' Jace Jung slides home to score on a double by Trey Sweeney during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals center fielder Garrett Hampson catches a fly ball for the out on Detroit Tigers' Trey Sweeney during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)