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Brewers offense finally shows up in season-saving NLCS Game 6 victory

The Milwaukee Brewers offense could not have picked a better time to break out. With their season on the line in Game 6 of the National League Championship, the Brewers offense erupted for a postseason-high seven runs in their 7-2 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Seven really is the key number. That’s the number of total runs Milwaukee scored in three games at Dodger Stadium. We’d consider it a lucky number too. With the win the Brewers have forced a decisive Game 7 on Saturday night at Miller Park.

It was the Dodgers who struck first in Game 6. Strategically placed leadoff hitter David Freese started the game with a home run, which snapped the Dodgers streak of 111 at-bats without one. The Brewers not only hit back, they hit back harder in the bottom of the first inning, scoring four runs off Dodgers Hyun-jin Ryu.

The Brewers’ rally was keyed by three consecutive two-out hits. Jesús Aguilar whipped Miller Park into a frenzy with a two-run double into the right-field corner.

That proved to be a mere icebreaker after Mike Moustakas followed with a run-scoring double of his own. The next batter, Erik Kratz, plated him with a single.

Milwaukee added one more against Ryu in the second inning. Christian Yelich doubled for his first extra-base hit in the series. Ryan Braun followed with a run-scoring double. That helped Milwaukee get into the Los Angeles bullpen early. Manager Dave Roberts pulled Ryu after three innings, forcing his bullpen to absorb five innings.

That could be a key factor in Game 7. Roberts didn’t use closer Kenley Jansen, but he did use Kenta Maeda, along with starters Alex Wood and Rich Hill, as he tried to keep the game close. The idea being the closer the game stayed, the better chance Brewers skipper Craig Counsell would have to use his ace reliever, Josh Hader.

That never happened, in part because the Brewers offense kept adding on. Single runs in the seventh and eighth innings gave Counsell enough confidence to save Hader for Saturday.

Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun (8) celebrates after scoring during a four-run first-inning rally in NLCS Game 6 (AP)
Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun (8) celebrates after scoring during a four-run first-inning rally in NLCS Game 6 (AP)

The Brewers offense is one that’s tended to run hot and cold. That was a big factor in them missing the postseason last year. Milwaukee finished a disappointing 20th in runs scored in MLB, which led general manager David Stearns to get aggressive during the offseason. Outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich were brought in to provide a boost. When he wasn’t totally satisfied with the results in July, he was aggressive at the trade deadline, adding Mike Moustakas and Jonathan Schoop.

The Brewers jumped up to 12th in runs scored this season, but even that number was a bit disappointing given the depth of their lineup.

At some point, it’s up to the players to produce at the expected level. In a must-win NLCS Game 6, that’s exactly what they did.

As the old saying goes, better late than never.

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