Joey Ortiz and William Contreras each knocked in two runs, helping the Milwaukee Brewers get closer to winning the NL Central title with a 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, who lead the NL East, on Monday night.
The Brewers’ magic number is now down to two as they aim for their third division title in four years. They can secure it on Tuesday night with a win and a loss by the Chicago Cubs to the Oakland Athletics.
Brewers pitcher Aaron Civale (9-8) allowed seven hits but struck out six, giving up just one run and one walk over five innings.
“Anytime you’re competing and playing meaningful games at the end of the year, it’s awesome,” Civale said. “At this point, it’s just trying to get everybody on the same page and trying to make as deep a run as you can.”
Colin Rea, usually a starter, made his fourth relief appearance of the season and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first career save. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said he asked Rea to help out the bullpen, which was short on arms after a tough 11-10, 10-inning loss in Arizona.
“He goes, ‘Absolutely,’” Murphy said. “That’s the type of people that you’re looking for to build a team when you’re in a small market and had all the adversity we’ve had.”
Rea became the 12th Brewers pitcher to earn a save this season, setting a franchise record. The only team with more was the 2021 Tampa Bay Rays with 14.
Rea had never earned a save before, not in the major leagues, minor leagues, or in his two stints pitching in Japan.
“I wasn’t sure how long I was going to go, and you just kind of leave it all out there,” Rea said. “I feel like when I come out of the bullpen, that’s the way it goes. There’s just that extra adrenaline.”
Blake Perkins scored twice for the Brewers. Brandon Marsh hit a home run for the Phillies.
Contreras started the scoring with a two-run double that had a 115.6 mph exit velocity, which is the third-highest of his career. He hit a sharp grounder off Ranger Suárez that rolled to the wall in left-center, bringing home Jackson Chourio and Perkins.
The Brewers added to their lead, making it 3-0 in the fourth inning. Rhys Hoskins walked to lead off the inning against his former team, moved to third on Sal Frelick’s double, and scored on Ortiz’s sacrifice fly.
Brandon Marsh got the Phillies on the board with a two-out homer in the fifth. The Brewers then scored two more runs in the sixth to go up 5-1. Ortiz hit a two-out RBI triple and later scored on Brice Turang’s single to left.
Suárez (12-7) pitched five innings, striking out five while allowing three runs, four hits, and three walks. He stayed in the game after injuring his right wrist while trying to field Turang’s bunt in the fourth inning.
The Phillies were 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and missed chances to come back.
“We got enough hits to score some (more) runs,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “We had chances, but it just didn’t happen.”
The Phillies ran into trouble in the third inning. Cal Stevenson tried to advance from first to third on a single by Trea Turner but was thrown out by Sal Frelick. Turner was then picked off trying to steal second base.
In the sixth, Kyle Schwarber and Turner had singles off Civale, but Hoby Milner came in and retired Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and Alec Bohm in order.
The Phillies had a chance to tie the game when Schwarber’s two-out RBI single in the seventh cut Milwaukee’s lead to 5-2 and put runners on the corners, but Rea got Turner out on a fly ball to right field.
