Jake Bauers hits game-ending single to lift NL Central-clinching Brewers to 2-1 win over Phillies

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jake Bauers hit an RBI single in the ninth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers, who had clinched the NL Central earlier when the Cubs lost, beat Philadelphia 2-1 on Wednesday night to prevent the Phillies from securing a playoff berth.

Bauers' hit off Phillies closer Carlos Estévez (4-5) scored Jackson Chourio, who had tripled.

“I think the vibe in the clubhouse all day was, that's great that we (clinched), but we need to win this game," Bauers said. “It was intense, man, it was intense. You could feel the pressure."

Milwaukee closer Devin Williams (1-0) struck out Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh in order in the ninth.

Milwaukee clinched its second straight division title and made the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons by virtue of the Chicago Cubs’ 5-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics Wednesday. Chicago is still fighting for a wild card.

Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta, making his career-high 31st start of the season, allowed one run on two hits in five innings, striking out nine and walking two.

Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola, second in the NL in innings pitched, went seven innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out nine and walking one. He had given up 10 earned runs in nine innings in his previous two starts.

“My command was pretty good, I was getting early outs,” Nola said.

“They're definitely a grinding team. Just trying to execute my pitches and get first-pitch strikes and get the leadoff guy out.”

The teams struck out 28 times combined.

Phillies batters struck out 16 times Tuesday and 16 times Wednesday.

“Two really good teams, low scoring, tight games," Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. "Those are the games you certainly like to win and hate to lose.”

Milwaukee took the series, winning 6-2 on Monday. Philadelphia won 5-1 on Tuesday.

Bohm gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead in the second inning with his first home run since Aug. 15.

Rhys Hoskins’ 25th homer tied the game in the fifth inning. The former Phillie also doubled.

“Are you surprised? Of course you're not surprised," Hoskins said of the come-from-behind win. "That's what we've been doing all year.”

Milwaukee right-hander Joe Ross allowed a single and a walk upon taking over for Peralta to start the sixth inning. But Ross retired Nick Castellanos and Bohm before being replaced by left-hander Jared Koenig, who got Stott to ground out on the first pitch.

After Chourio's leadoff triple in the ninth, Estévez intentionally walked William Contreras, struck out Garrett Mitchell and walked Willy Adames, loading the bases before Bauers' single.

“Everybody was doubting us at the beginning, that we were going to be able to do this," Adames said. “We proved them wrong. Hopefully we can go all the way and win it all.”

The Phillies’ magic number to qualify for the playoffs is one, and four to clinch the NL East.

The Phillies made the playoffs the past two seasons, losing to Arizona in the 2023 NL Championship Series and to Houston in the 2022 World Series.

UP NEXT

Phillies: Open a four-game series Thursday in New York against the Mets, who are battling for a wild card. Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker (3-6, 6.29 ERA) faces RHP Luis Severino (10-6, 3.77).

Brewers: Open a four-game series Thursday in Milwaukee against Arizona with RHP Tobias Myers (8-5, 3.07 ERA). The wild card-contending Diamondbacks will start RHP Brandon Pfaadt (9-9, 4.81).

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

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio reacts after hitting a triple during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber hits a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins hits a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins hits a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Devin Williams reacts after striking out Philadelphia Phillies' Brandon Marsh during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Rhys Hoskins is congratulated after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (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' Jake Bauers reacts after hitting a walk-off RBI single after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jake Bauers is congratulated by Devin Williams and Garrett Mitchell after hitting a walk-off RBI single after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Baltimore (0-2) at Dallas (1-1)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT, Fox.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Ravens by 1.

Against the spread: Ravens 0-2, Cowboys 1-1.

Series record: Ravens lead 5-1.

Last meeting: Ravens beat Cowboys 34-17 on Dec. 8, 2020, in Baltimore.

Last week: Ravens lost to Raiders 26-23; Cowboys lost to Saints 44-19.

Ravens offense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (4), scoring (14T)

Ravens defense: overall (15), rush (1), pass (32), scoring (28)

Cowboys offense: overall (17), rush (25), pass (9), scoring (7)

Cowboys defense: overall (19), rush (20), pass (16), scoring (30)

Turnover differential: Ravens even; Cowboys plus-1.

RB Derrick Henry is a power back facing an interior defensive front that's been a nagging weakness for the Cowboys for a long time. There is an injury issue for Dallas as well. Veteran DT Jordan Phillips went to injured reserve with a wrist problem, leading the Cowboys to reunite with Carlos Watkins this week. DT Mazi Smith missed practice to start the week because of a tight back. Henry had 84 yards and a TD in the loss to the Raiders, and Dallas allowed 190 yards rushing and four TDs in the loss to the Saints.

WR CeeDee Lamb is still looking for a breakout game coming off an All-Pro season that included eight 100-yard outings. The Ravens are giving up a league-worst 257 yards passing per game through two weeks. Lamb hasn't been completely bottled up, though. He had a big catch on an early touchdown drive in the Week 1 win at Cleveland. His 65-yard score after ducking out of a tackle briefly got Dallas back in last week's game against New Orleans. Lamb can become the sixth player in NFL history with at least one touchdown catch in nine consecutive regular-season home games.

Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons vs. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. It's always intriguing when an elite speed rusher faces one of the league's best running quarterbacks. And this is the first time Parsons will see the reigning NFL MVP because the most recent meeting between the clubs was 2020, the year before Dallas drafted Parsons in the first round. Parsons is in rare company as an All-Pro selection in two of his first three seasons, and Jackson is a two-time MVP.

CB Nate Wiggins, the Ravens' rookie first-round draft pick, didn't practice to start the week after missing the loss to the Raiders because of a neck injury sustained in a car wreck. ... LB Adisa Isaac, a rookie third-round choice, could be in line for his NFL debut. Isaac missed the first two games with a hamstring issue. ... Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson appears set to return after missing a game with a knee injury. ... Lamb (ankle) and CB Trevon Diggs (foot) showed up on the injury report Wednesday, but coach Mike McCarthy there wasn't concern with either player. ... DT Mazi Smith left practice Wednesday when his back tightened up, and his status is in flux.

The only victory for the Cowboys in the series came during the remarkable rookie seasons for QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott in 2016. Dallas won 11 consecutive games and was the top seed in the NFC when those two finished neck-and-neck in voting for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year (Prescott won). The 27-17 win over the Ravens at home was the ninth victory in that run. Prescott threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns and Elliott had 97 yards rushing. They have been reunited this season after Elliott spent last season in New England. He was let go in a cost-cutting move after the 2022 season.

The Ravens, who reached the AFC championship game last season, are 0-2 for the first time since 2015, when they lost their first three games and missed the playoffs. That was the middle of a stretch of Baltimore missing the playoffs four times in five seasons after winning a Super Bowl. ... The Cowboys have allowed 92 points in their past two home games — the loss to the Saints that ended a 16-game home winning streak in the regular season and a 48-32 wild-card defeat against Green Bay in January. The franchise worst is 93 points from consecutive home games in the winless (0-11-1) expansion season of 1960. ... Since 2021, the Cowboys are 12-2 coming off a loss. That .857 winning percentage is tied with Buffalo for the best in the NFL during that span. ... Jackson needs one more game of leading the Ravens in passing and rushing yards to tie Cam Newton for the NFL record at 40. ... TE Mark Andrews needs one TD receiving to tie TE Mark Heap for the most in franchise history at 41. ... LB Kyle Van Noy had two sacks against Las Vegas a week after fracturing an orbital bone against Kansas City. ... LB Odafe Oweh had a career-best 2 1/2 sacks against the Raiders. ... Prescott needs 69 yards passing to join Tony Romo and Troy Aikman as the only Dallas QBs to reach 30,000 yards. CB Trevon Diggs has one more chance to reach 20 interceptions in his first 50 games. Only three others since 1990 have done it — Marcus Peters, Richard Sherman and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed. ... Ravens K Justin Tucker needs one FG of at least 50 yards for 59 such kicks in his career, which would break a tie with Sebastian Janikowski at No. 2. Cowboys second-year K Brandon Aubrey is 13 of 13 for his career from at least 50. That's the most without a miss from 50-plus in league history.

This won't be the week to try to figure out how the Cowboys might use Elliott and Rico Dowdle. The run game was probably the top concern for Dallas coming into the season and hasn't had a chance to find a rhythm. Baltimore has the NFL's best rushing defense through two weeks.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) tackles Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) reacts in front of New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (1), cornerback Will Harris (5) and safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) while scoring on a long touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons celebrates as he walks off the field after the team's NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) warms up before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)