3 unexpected reasons Milwaukee Brewers were eliminated from playoffs

The Milwaukee Brewers offense sputtered to score runs in their Wild Card series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but that was not the main reason why the Crew were eliminated.

It was certainly a big reason, especially after getting 17 runners on base in Game 1 and only coming away with three runs.

The offense has been inconsistent all season, and that was always going to be the major cause of any postseason appearance being a short one.

What was completely unexpected was the three other causes that led to Brew Crew making an early playoff exit.

Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta could not hold early leads.

The Brewers were going to be without ace pitcher Brandon Woodruff in this series due to a shoulder injury.

It was all the more reason the Crew needed to get a great start from their other All-Star pitchers, Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta.

Instead, Burnes labored through four innings in Game 1 as he gave up four runs on five hits.

Making it even worse, the Diamondbacks got their four runs off of Burnes on three home runs. Those homers erased an early 3-0 Milwaukee lead.

The short outing forced manager Craig Counsell to use six relievers. This was the game Milwaukee needed to win since Arizona had their ace pitcher Zac Gallen going in Game 2.

After spotting the Crew an early 2-0 lead, he settled down and kept the Brewers’ bats quiet.

Peralta pitched a gem through the first four innings in Game 2. Then he made a bad pitch to Alex Thomas in the fifth inning and Thomas smoked it for a solo home run. The next inning, Peralta unraveled, and suddenly, the Brewers were down and out.

Devin Williams failed to keep the game close in Game 1 and then Abner Uribe did the same in Game 2.

All-Star closer Devin Williams made his first career postseason appearance in Game 1.

He struggled with his command as he walked three batters and gave up a two-out, two-run double to Christian Walker. That gave the Diamondbacks a comfortable three-run leading hitting into the bottom of the ninth.

The bullpen had been excellent up until that point, as it kept Arizona off the scoreboard for four innings.

The hope coming into this postseason was the Crew’s great starting pitching and bullpen would be enough to overcome the lineup’s inconsistency to score runs.

That did not happen with two of the Milwaukee Brewers’ best pitchers getting the ball in Game 1.

Rookie Abner Uribe, who had been good out of the pen all season, allowed the Diamondbacks to add two more runs after Peralta exited the game during the sixth inning in Game 2. It felt like the lead was insurmountable at that point.

Diamondbacks third baseman Evan Longoria turned back the clock in Game 1.

Getting on base was not an issue for Milwaukee in Game 1. Scoring runs was, and Arizona’s defense was a major reason for that.

37-year-old Evan Longoria looked like his 23-year-old self.

That was a big reason for the Diamondbacks’ outstanding defense, as he made two great defensive plays to kill the Brewers’ rallies.

He robbed Tyrone Taylor in the sixth inning of a potential bases-clearing hit in the sixth that ended a bases-loaded threat.

Then he made another nice defensive play the next inning on Josh Donaldson’s grounder to start a double play.

It was a vintage performance for the three-time All-Star and former AL Rookie of the Year. That was not something anyone expected in this game.

The unexpected is why the Milwaukee Brewers are eliminated.