Florida Marlins lose 1-4 as Milwaukee Brewers seize NL Central – MLB Update
The Florida Marlins were edged out 1-4 by Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, September 23 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to see the latter grab the NL Central title amid fireworks and a sell-out crowd.
Playing full strength, the Brewers were kept at bay till the seventh inning before Ryan Braun’s outburst in the eighth saw the home-team establish a three-run lead. John Axford followed with a perfect ninth to save his 44th game and hand Brewers
their 92nd win of the season.
Yovani Gallardo and Chris Volstad had a scintillating contest from the mound, both allowing just one run in their respective spells to keep the game in contention.
Prince Fielder initiated the scoring for Milwaukee in the second inning, pulling Volstad’s pitch to right-field for a 411-feet home-run. The National League home-run derby captain might be in his last season with the Brewers but has no intent of giving up
before a positive result in the postseason.
Fielder said, "It means a lot, we've got a great team, the fans are with us all here. I'm just glad we're able to do it, we've got a little ways to go, but I'm going to enjoy the h**l out of this. Hopefully, we go all the way."
Gallardo kept the Brewers in the lead with his spotless pitching, but Bryan Petersen drove in a run in the fourth inning to bring the scores level at 1-1. Gaby Sanchez scored for the Marlins to deny Gallardo of what could have been a potential win.
Francisco Rodriguez came in to relief Gallardo in the eighth inning and tossed just ten pitches to bag his sixth win of the season.
Fresh from signing a 105-million-dollar contract with the Brewers, Ryan Braun broke the deadlock at the bottom of the eighth inning with a three-run home-run down centre-field to prove his worth. The contract will keep him with Milwaukee till 2020.
Showing immense team unity, Braun said, "It just feels so good, all of us as a team, to be in this moment."
The Brewers are having a feast at home this season, winning 53 of their 76 games thus far and one away from equalling the record for most wins at home by the ballclub. They will want to replicate this form in the post-season.
The Marlins, on the contrary, will be looking to add some consistency to their ingredients heading into the next season for improved results.
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