The Milwaukee Brewers ended their season in heartbreak Tuesday night, giving up three runs to the Washington Nationals in the eighth inning of National League Wild Card Game, falling 4-3.
The Brewers got to Nationals’ ace Max Scherzer early with a two-run homerun from Brewers catcher Yazmani Grandal in the first inning. Eric Thames followed in the third with a solo shot, putting the Brewers up 3-0 and in the driver’s seat.
Brandon Woodruff started the game on the mound for Milwaukee. The 2019 all-star had a lead to work with and gave up one run over four innings for the Crew before manager Craig Counsell handed it over to his bullpen.
Relief pitching was vital for both Wild Card teams in the contest. Brent Suter and Drew Pomeranz combined for three scoreless innings for the Brewers. Stephen Strasburg threw three scoreless innings for Washington, including a fifth inning where he stranded two runners with one out.
Brewers closer Josh Hader was going to be asked to get six outs to send the Brewers back to the National League Division Series (NLDS).
Hader recorded the first out of the inning, then went on to find his team facing a bases-loaded situation with two outs. Washington’s Juan Soto stepped in and delivered a base hit to right field that got by Brewers’ outfielder Trent Grisham, allowing all three runners to score and giving the Nationals a 4-3 lead.
The Nationals turned the game over to Daniel Hudson, who retired three of the four Brewers he faced, securing the ball clubs first ever winner-take-all victory since moving to Washington in 2005 (TBS).
Washington will take on the reigning National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. The first game will be tonight at 7:37 p.m. CST.