Christian Yelich and Brice Turang hit early home runs as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night, postponing Philadelphia’s chance to secure a place in the National League play-offs.
Turang put Milwaukee ahead with a solo shot in the first inning before Yelich struck in the second, sending a 12th home run of the season over the wall. William Contreras then added a two-run single in the third to give the Brewers a three-run cushion.
The result gave the Brewers their 99th win of the season and extended a franchise-record total. Milwaukee now needs one victory from its final four games to reach 100 wins for the first time in club history.
Philadelphia had been aiming to clinch a post-season berth with a victory and a defeat for either Arizona or San Diego later on Wednesday. Instead, the Phillies were left waiting after struggling to convert their opportunities.
They went 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners. The Phillies loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning, but managed only one run when J.T. Realmuto grounded out.
Logan Henderson earned the win for Milwaukee after allowing four hits and one run over five innings. Aaron Nola struck out eight in six innings for Philadelphia but conceded four runs from four hits.
Trevor Megill completed a scoreless ninth inning to claim his 30th save. Bryson Stott had two doubles for the Phillies, who are set to enter the play-offs as a wild-card team and are likely to begin their campaign on the road.
The Brewers, already crowned National League Central champions, had lost 6-4 to Philadelphia on Tuesday. Milwaukee had not announced its starter for Thursday’s series finale, while the Phillies are due to send right-hander Andrew Painter to the mound.
