Jackson Chourio hit a go-ahead solo home run in the ninth inning, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night. This victory marked the Brewers’ fifth consecutive win.
The 20-year-old Chourio had three hits and scored twice, helping the Brewers lower their magic number to 16 for clinching the NL Central title.
“We’re not saying we’re more talented than other teams, we’re just finding a way with somebody different every night,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “We’re confident in everybody.”
Chourio hit a one-out drive to right-center off Justin Wilson (1-4) for his 17th home run of the season.
“All I really had in my mind in that moment was finding a way to get on base, finding a way to help the team,” Chourio said through a translator. “I like being in those situations, where you can help the team win.”
Aaron Ashby (1-2) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win, and Devin Williams had a challenging ninth inning for his eighth save.
Williams walked two batters and hit TJ Friedl with a pitch, but first baseman Jake Bauers made a crucial diving stop of Ty France’s hard grounder to secure the final out. Bauers struck out four times but made the important play at the end.
“He’s got the Sombrero, good thing he didn’t wear it out to the field,” Murphy said. “It shows you, you can strike out four times and still have a huge effect on the game.”
The Brewers also had a key defensive play from center fielder Blake Perkins, who made a fantastic leaping catch to rob Noelvi Marte of a potential go-ahead home run, ending the sixth inning.
“I think maybe in the daytime it might be out,” Perkins said. “The first three steps I didn’t think I had a chance. I just kept running, it came down and I just tried to make a play on it.”
