Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
In a bittersweet night for the Milwaukee Brewers, the visiting St. Louis Cardinals emerged victorious with a 4-1 win on Tuesday, even as the Brewers clinched the National League Central title thanks to a Chicago Cubs defeat.
Miles Mikolas played a pivotal role in the Cardinals’ triumph, allowing just one run over seven solid innings. However, the Brewers’ division-clinching celebration was made possible by the Chicago Cubs’ 7-6 loss to the Atlanta Braves on the same night. The Brewers entered the game with a comfortable six-game lead over the Cubs, securing their third division title in the last six seasons.
Mikolas (8-13) delivered a standout performance, surrendering five hits, striking out five, and issuing two walks during his 101-pitch outing. He showcased remarkable control and composure on the mound, setting the tone for the Cardinals.
Drew VerHagen took over in the eighth inning, providing a perfect frame, while Ryan Helsley secured the victory with a dominant ninth inning, recording his 13th save in 18 opportunities for the Cardinals (69-88).
On the Brewers’ side, Adrian Houser (7-5) took the mound as the starter, but he faced a formidable Cardinals lineup. Houser allowed four runs on three hits over five innings, striking out five and walking two.
Houser displayed his effectiveness early in the game, retiring the first nine Cardinals batters he faced. However, St. Louis managed to break through in the fourth inning. Tommy Edman led off with a single, and Lars Nootbaar drew a one-out walk. With two outs, Richie Palacios delivered a clutch two-run double down the first-base line, giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals extended their lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning. Andrew Knizner started the frame with a walk, advanced to third on an error following Jose Fermin’s reach, and scored on Masyn Winn’s sacrifice fly. Edman added to the lead with a two-out solo home run, his 13th of the season.
Mikolas faced a critical moment in the third inning when the Brewers took a 1-0 lead but missed an opportunity for a more significant inning. Christian Yelich initiated the inning with a leadoff walk, and William Contreras followed with a single. Carlos Santana then contributed an RBI double, putting the Brewers on the scoreboard. Despite the early run, Mikolas retired three consecutive Brewers, thanks in large part to a diving stab at third base by Fermin, who prevented a potential hit and saved the inning for the Cardinals.
The victory for the Cardinals might not change their postseason outlook, but it serves as a testament to their competitive spirit. Meanwhile, the Brewers can now celebrate their NL Central title and shift their focus toward the playoffs, eager to make a deep postseason run.
