Brewers Sweep Cubs At Wrigley For The First Time In 15 Years
Remember 3 blogs ago how I said whoever wins both Cubs series in Chicago and in Milwaukee would go to the NLDS? Well it looks like the Brewers have completed steps 1 of 2 in winning the division. Not only did the Brew Crew win the series, but for the first time since September 2002, Milwaukee swept the series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
This is a very special series win for the Brewers considering that they've had a tough road to the Postseason this September. Game 1 was a 2-0 shutout where both runs came off the bat of Ryan Braun via a two run home run. Game 2 was not a shutout, but my was there a big margin of scoring for Milwaukee as they would have an 8 run third inning; including a run from a balk. Brewers would win that one 15-2. Today however was rather a close game.
It started when former Met Rene Rivera hit an RBI double to give Chicago an early 1-0 lead. Brewers would tie things up when Stephen Vogt hit an RBI groundout, keeping the game even at 1. Then in the sixth inning, Travis Shaw hit a 2 run shot to right giving Milwaukee the go-ahead runs as they would lead the game 3-1. They would win by that same score, making it their first sweep at Wrigley Field since September 2002. The Cubs have now lost 6 of their last 8 and drop to 2 games ahead of the Brewers in the NL Central.
Both the Cardinals and Cubs have an off day tomorrow while the Brewers go back home to face the Pirates. If the Brewers win that game, that would drop St Louis to 2.5 games behind and Milwaukee would go down to either 1 or 1.5 games behind the division. The rest of the Brewers' schedule looks like this:
9/11-9/13 Pirates
9/15-9/17 @ Marlins
9/18-9/20 @ Pirates
9/21-9/24 Cubs
9/26-9/28 Reds
9/29-10/1 @ Cardinals
3 home series and 3 road series left. And let me tell you something right now, the Brewers can easily win the NL Central if they at least win all of these series. Sweep the Pirates twice, Cubs once, Reds once, and Cardinals once (or at least win every series), and the Brewers can spray Champagne and celebrate their way to a division title.
Speaking of Champagne and division titles, the Nationals won against the Phillies and the Braves won, clinching the Nationals' second straight NL East title. The Brewers can be the second team to win the division and they just mightmeet these Nationals in the NLDS.
The Brewers' magic number is 18 games until elimination, but if they can win these next series, Milwaukee can lead themselves to their first division crown in 6 years.
I know this Brewers team can make it to the Postseason. They just have to prove to themselves and the entire league that they can be a force in this Postseason.
And if they do that, who knows what October will have in store.