Covering the bases 9/13/2025: Brewers 9, Cardinals 8 (10 inn., postseason clincher)
It is official: The Milwaukee Brewers are back in the postseason. That became reality Saturday before the Brewers had a huge rally for a 9-8 walk-off win in 10 innings at American Family Field. The Brewers trailed 6-1 after the top of the sixth inning. The two-time defending NL Central champions, who improved to an MLB-best 91-58, have made the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons, including four times as the division winner and likely a fifth time this year. This is the 11th time in franchise history the Brewers have made the playoffs.
FIRST BASE: A Gray day
Chalk up the Brewers' early offensive struggles to being shut down by Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray. The veteran announced his presence with authority in the first inning, striking out all three batters he faced. That set the tone as he gave up two runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out eight over five innings. Gray gave up both runs on sacrifice flies. In fact, the first three Crew runs came on sac flies.
SECOND BASE: Mixed Misiorowski
Rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski wasn't good and he wasn't terrible. But based on his last couple outings, questions have to be asked about what role the flame-thrower will have in the postseason. Against the Cardinals, Misiorowski allowed a season-worst seven hits and gave up four runs, walking one and striking out four in five innings. To be fair, Misiorowski started a day earlier than originally planned after the Brewers pushed Brandon Woodruff, Saturday's scheduled starter, back to Wednesday just a day before. Still, Misiorowski had an extra day of rest since his previous start and wasn't his usual self. He gave up a couple of runs in the first, then one in the third and another in the fifth.
THIRD BASE: The comeback
It was meant to end this way. A little more Uecker magic – scoring five runs in the eighth and ninth innings – on a day the Brewers clinched. In the bottom of the 10th, down 8-7 and Blake Perkins the automatic runner on second, Jake Bauers grounded out to first with Perkins moving to third. Caleb Durbin then doubled to left-center to tie the game. Andruw Monasterio then capped a 10-pitch at-bat with an opposite-field single to right that easily scored Durbin for the Brewers' 11th walk-off win and 36th comeback victory of the season. The 11 walk-offs are tied for the most in MLB. After scoring two in the eighth and giving up a run to the Cardinals in the top of the ninth, the Brewers scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Caleb Durbin and Andruw Monasterio were each hit by pitches to begin the inning, then Sal Frelick doubled to left-center to make it 7-5. Jackson Chourio followed with an infield single up the middle that pulled the Crew within 7-6. After Brice Turang flew out, William Conteras had a weakly hit infield single that scored Frelick with the tying run. But that was it as Christian Yelich was caught looking and Isaac Collins flew out.
HOME PLATE: Welcome to the postseason!
Less than an hour before first pitch, the Brewers officially had their ticket punched to the postseason. That came when the fading New York Mets lost to the Texas Rangers 3-2. While they have a ticket to the dance, they are looking to secure the NL Central – a forgone conclusion – and the No. 1 seed in the NL. The Brewers' magic number for winning the Central is down to eight following the Cubs' 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Brewers remain two games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NL. The Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals 8-6.
EXTRA BASES: Quintana in finale
⚾ The Brewers, perhaps with a slight hangover after celebrating clinching a playoff spot, will send left-hander Jose Quintana (11-6, 3.88 ERA) to the mound in the final game of the series against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas (7-10, 4.84 ERA). Quintana's final line from his last start looked worse than it actually was. In a 5-0 loss to the Texas Rangers, Quintana allowed all five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four in 6⅔ innings. The big blow was a grand slam in the fifth inning of what had been a scoreless game. Damage against Quintana in recent outings has come in the latter stages of his starts. Mikolas has been solid in his last three starts, allowing four runs over 16 innings. The Cardinals dropped a 4-2 decision to Seattle Mariners in his last start, as Mikolas gave up two runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in five innings.
