Covering the bases 9/17/2025: Brewers 9, Angels 2
The Milwaukee Brewers continued to take care of business, hammering out a 9-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday at American Family Field. The Brewers' fourth win in five games boosted their MLB-leading record to 93-59 and reduced their magic number for winning their third straight NL Central title to six. The Brewers have a five-game lead over the second-place Chicago Cubs, who clinched a playoff spot with an 8-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Brewers have 10 games remaining this season as they look to eclipse the club record of 96 wins in a season. They also entered the day 1½ games ahead of the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NL postseason.
FIRST BASE: Quintana on IL
Despite an encouraging report from the pitcher himself, Brewers left-handed starter Jose Quintana went on the 15-day injured list with a strained left calf. Quintana told reporters that he throwing session Tuesday went well and he was doing some running Wednesday with the hope of starting Sunday on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals. But news came shortly thereafter that Quintana's regular season was over as the Brewers made room for right-handed reliever Nick Mears (back) to be activated off the 15-day IL. Quintana should be ready to return for the NL Division Series, likely in a bullpen role.
SECOND BASE: Frelick's blast and trot
Whether intended or not, Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick provided as much entertainment with his two-run homer as he did with his sprint around the bases. Frelick hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run second inning, a line drive that just cleared the fence in right field. But as Frelick does, he was already sprinting toward first when the hit became his 11th homer of the season, so he kept it up and made it around the bases quickly.
THIRD BASE: Perkin' Perkins
There is a lot of pressure on a player to come through when hitting with the bases loaded. Blake Perkins likes that pressure. The Brewers' center fielder had a two-run single with the bases loaded, scoring William Contreras and Brice Turang, to open a five-run second inning that quickly put a nice cushion between the Brewers and the Angels. Perkins again came up with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, this time delivering a bases-clearing triple to make it 9-2 and erase any comeback thoughts by the Angels. The five RBIs matched Perkins' career best.
HOME PLATE: Little rust for Woody
Pitching for the first time after having 10 days off, it was going to be interesting to see how Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff responded. But based on how he had performed this season following shoulder surgery that kept him out since late in 2023, you just had that feeling he would be just fine. And he was. Woodruff struck out nine over five innings, allowing just one run and two hits while not issuing a walk. The run came on the first of two solo homers by Angels slugger Taylor Ward. Woodruff's velocity was down, especially at the beginning of the game, before somewhat bouncing back.
EXTRA BASES: Priester streak on the line
⚾ Right-hander Quinn Priester (13-2, 3.25 ERA) goes for the Brewers in the finale of this three-game series against Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (6-11, 4.08 ERA). Priester has won a club-record 12 consecutive decisions, a streak covering 18 appearances (15 starts). The Brewers have not lost during any of those 18 outings by Priester. His last outing was Friday's 8-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in which Priester allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five over 5⅓ innings. Kikuchi has been a stable force in the Angels' rotation, although he has been roughed up in three of his last four starts. But after giving up 18 runs in 11⅔ innings in three starts, Kikuchi regained his staff-leading form by allowing one run on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts over six innings Friday in a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
