Danny Jansen belted a two-run homer to pace the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-2 comeback victory Sunday over the visiting Cincinnati Reds, who clinched their first postseason appearance since 2020 despite the loss.
Cincinnati (83-79) entered Sunday tied for the final National League wild-card spot with the Mets, who closed out the season at Miami. With a 4-0 Mets loss, the Reds still get the wild-card spot, their first postseason berth since 2020 and their first in a 162-game season since 2013 by virtue of a tiebreaker over the Mets.
Milwaukee (97-65), which has home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with the best overall record in the majors, has a bye into the NLDS, which begins Oct. 4. With the win, the Brewers set a new franchise record for victories in a season.
As the No. 6 seed in the NL, the Reds begin their best-of-three wild-card series at the third-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.
The Brewers scored three runs in the fourth to go in front 4-2. Isaac Collins opened with a ground-rule double. With one out, Jansen lined a 3-2 pitch to left for his 14th homer, putting Milwaukee up 3-2 and chasing starter Brady Singer (14-12). Jackson Chourio singled with one out off Nick Lodolo and stole second. Andrew Vaughn’s pinch-hit double scored Chourio.
Elly De La Cruz put the Reds up 1-0, opening the second inning with his 22nd homer off starter Freddy Peralta
TJ Friedl made it 2-0 with a leadoff homer off DL Hall in the third, his 14th.
The Brewers got one back in the bottom half on doubles by Chourio and Brice Turang.
With a first-round bye into the NLDS, the Brewers tweaked their postseason pitching situation.
Peralta, the NL leader with 17 victories, allowed one run in a two-inning tune-up start. Peralta, making his career-high 33rd start, allowed one run on three hits in a 44-pitch outing.
Hall and All-Star closer Trevor Megill, each activated earlier Sunday off the injured list, pitched an inning apiece. Megill (6-3) got the win with one scoreless inning. Abner Uribe, the sixth reliever used, tossed a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in nine opportunities.
–Field Level Media
