Christian Yelich proves worthy as MVP as Milwaukee Brewers hold off Rockies

The Milwaukee Brewers relied on Christian Yelich once again in a close win over the Colorado Rockies. After almost throwing the game away, the Brew Crew clutches up and wins in extras.

In what should have been an easy closeout, turns into a scare for the Milwaukee Brewers against the Colorado Rockies. A late rally by the Rockies tied the game up at two apiece and sent the game into extras. Brewers would finally capitalize on runners in scoring position and win in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Brandon Woodruff started the afternoon off and made it through three innings facing the minimum. He did his job and would get replaced by Corbin Burnes. With Burnes pitching in the fourth inning, he retired Charlie Blackmon on a pop out, caught DJ LeMahieu looking and struck out Nolan Arenado. Burnes, fired up after a quick 13 pitch inning, did same in the fifth. He popped out David Dahl, caught Trevor Story looking, gave up a triple to Carlos Gonzalez but grounded out Ian Desmond the next at-bat for another 13 pitch inning.

Burnes very easily could have pitched another inning as he was slinging it, which would have helped the Brewers. With Craig Counsell‘s ever questionable pitching rotation, that wasn’t the case.

In the bottom of the third, Lorenzo Cain drew a walk and Christian Yelich proceeded to hit a home run to center field giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead. Corey Knebel escaped the sixth inning thanks to two great plays from Orlando Arcia and a pop out to center field.

For the night, Yelich batted 2-for-3, one home run, two RBIs, and one stolen base. The rest of the Brewers accounted for one RBI, the Mike Moustakas walk-off winner, no home runs, and batted 5-for-32. Yelich deserves the MVP, and it’s not even close.

The Brewers had a chance in the eighth inning to add to their lead with bases loaded and failed to do so leaving all runners stranded. With Jeremy Jeffress giving up an abysmal two runs in the top of the ninth, the Rockies tied the game up at two.

The Rockies chose to pitch to Moustakas instead of walk him to have bases loaded with two outs and a right handed batter up. Moustakas made them pay and singled to right field bringing in Yelich, winning the game.

Counsell has received endless criticism for his pitching rotations throughout the year, despite the Brewers winning 95 games and the division thanks to a tie-breaker victory over the Chicago Cubs.

If Burnes was able to pitch another inning; you hand it over to Knebel who pitches his one and two-thirds or two innings and you finish the game with Josh Hader. These pitchers alone could have easily won the game. Silver lining here is that the Brewers still pulled out the win.

Game 2 and a chance to go up 2-0 in the series is Friday at 4:15 PM Eastern Standard Time.