Joey Ortiz and William Contreras each drove in two runs, and the Brewers moved a step closer to securing the NL Central title with a 6-2 victory over the NL East-leading Phillies on Monday night. The win dropped Milwaukee’s magic number to two, and the Brewers can clinch their third division crown in four years with a win Tuesday night, combined with a Cubs loss to Oakland.
Aaron Civale (9-8) navigated through five innings, scattering seven hits and allowing just one run while striking out six. He worked out of several jams, issuing only one walk. Phillies starter Ranger Suárez (12-7) lasted five innings, surrendering three runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Suárez had a scare in the fourth, jamming his wrist while attempting to field a bunt but remained in the game. He threw 104 pitches, the first time he crossed the century mark since late May, though six three-ball counts contributed to his high pitch total.
Suárez's season has taken a downturn—after a 10-2 record with a 1.83 ERA through June 25, he's posted a 5.96 ERA in nine starts since. The left-hander was let down by the Phillies' offense, which struggled to capitalize, going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Brandon Marsh briefly sparked life with a two-out solo homer in the fifth, but Milwaukee answered in the sixth. Ortiz drove in a run with a two-out RBI triple and scored on Brice Turang’s single, stretching the lead to 5-1. The Phillies had chances to cut into the deficit but ran into trouble on the basepaths. In the third inning, Cal Stevenson was thrown out trying to advance from first to third on a Trea Turner single, and Turner was picked off trying to steal second.
Milwaukee’s bullpen sealed the win when Hoby Milner escaped a jam in the sixth after Kyle Schwarber and Turner led off with singles. Milner retired Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and Alec Bohm in order to snuff out the rally. The Phillies made one last push in the seventh. Schwarber’s RBI single cut the Brewers’ lead to 5-2 and brought the tying run to the plate, but Turner flied out to right to end the threat.
Zack Wheeler (15-6, 2.80 ERA) will take the mound for the Phillies on Tuesday night, while Frankie Montas (7-10, 4.49 ERA) gets the start for Milwaukee.
