Yelich and Turang homer as Brewers win 99th game and slow Phillies’ playoff push

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Christian Yelich and Brice Turang each hit a solo home run and the Milwaukee Brewers slowed Philadelphia’s playoff push with a 4-1 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday night.

Philadelphia needed a win over the Brewers and a loss later by Arizona or San Diego to secure its fifth straight trip to the postseason. The Diamondbacks and Padres both won, leaving the Phillies tied with the Chicago Cubs at 87-71 for the second National League wild card — one game behind San Diego.

The Phillies started their playoff streak with a trip to the World Series in 2022. They reached the National League Championship Series the next season and are coming off consecutive NL East titles, but they’d have to settle for a wild-card berth this time.

Philadelphia went 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position against the Brewers and stranded 10 overall.

Before the game, Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said his team was willing to wait at Citizens Bank Park until after the Padres game ended, if necessary, to celebrate.

No need to hang around.

Aaron Nola (7-11) had turned around a miserable season and posted a 1.86 ERA over his last eight starts, and the longest-tenured Phillies player got a chance to pitch them into the postseason. But with a playoff party planned, he instead served up Turang’s 20th homer in the first inning and Yelich’s 12th in the second.

The Phillies scored their only run in the second after loading the bases with no outs against starter Logan Henderson (11-3). He allowed four hits and one run over five innings to help the NL Central champions earn their 99th win of the season.

Milwaukee is two games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers (97-61) for the best record in the majors and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Trevor Megill worked a scoreless ninth for his 30th save.

William Contreras extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a two-run single in the third for a 4-1 lead.

Nola struck out eight in six innings.

Up next

The Brewers had not announced a starter for Thursday’s game. The Phillies send RHP Andrew Painter (3-10, 5.59 ERA) to the mound.

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