Brewers somehow beat Nationals 15-14 in seesawing slugfest that lasts 14 innings

The Milwaukee Brewers managed to slug out a 14-inning victory against the Washington Nationals, capturing game two 15-14.

The game was about nothing but offense. Milwaukee got the scoring underway when the team showed it can, in fact, hit with runners in scoring position. Christian Yelich went to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a one-out single in the top of the third to give the Brewers an early two-run lead.

The Crew kept it going that inning, with Keston Hiura adding on with a two-run double and Mike Moustakas finishing the scoring by driving in Hiura. The Brewers ended the third with what felt like a comfortable five-run lead.

Jordan Lyles, however, faltered for the first time as a 2019 Brewer. In the bottom of the third, Washington got two back on a Juan Soto homer. Then Adam Eaton tied the game with a three-run shot in the bottom of the fourth.

The back and forth kept going when Ryan Braun showed off his power stroke in the fifth, putting Milwaukee back ahead 6-5. Trent Grisham added his own two-run homer in the sixth for good measure. Again, Milwaukee had a comfortable 8-5 lead.

Unfortunately, Freddy Peralta continued his awful August, allowing an RBI double to Victor Robles and then a three-run Trea Turner shot to give Washington the 9-8 lead in the bottom of the sixth. The Nats kept building that lead when Howie Kendrick launched his 13th bomb of the year, a two-run homer to extend the lead to three.

Milwaukee has Christian Yelich though, and the MVP’s 40th homer of the year got a spark going in the 9th inning. The solo shot brought Milwaukee within two. Then Keston Hiura got on base after Yelich’s homer and Moose tied the game with a two-run homer of his own. Ryan Braun kept the runs a coming with his second homer of the game, the third home run of the inning.

Nice things can’t be enjoyed though. Josh Hader came out for the save and struggled mightily, allowing two hits, two walks and the game-tying run. Hader’s woes unfortunately continue, but at least he didn’t allow a homer(?).

Yeli would try to play hero once again in the 13th inning, ending a four-inning run drought for both teams. Home run number 41 would put the team ahead by a run. Jeremy Jeffress tried to lock it up after that, but was lifted after recording just one out and allowing runners to reach the corners. Junior Guerra gave up a sac fly that drove in the tying run once again, but limited the damage to that.

Eric Thames didn’t want the game to go any longer, though. The big lefty struck a two-run homer to put the Brewers ahead for good, driving in Braun to take the 15-13 lead.

A Nationals run scored on a Hiura throwing error in the bottom half of the inning, but Guerra limited the damage to that. Milwaukee left with its 64th win of the year.

The Chicago Cubs won their game tonight, bringing them into a tie for the NL Central Division lead after a St. Louis Cardinals loss. Milwaukee is now a game back of both the division lead and the Wild Card.

The Crew will try to lock up the series in tomorrow’s rubber match at Washington. Chase Anderson (5-2, 3.78 ERA) will go against Eric Fedde (3-2, 4.09 ERA) at 12:35 p.m. CST.