Milwaukee Brewers' Nyjer Morgan winning reaction during the 10th inning of Game 5 of baseball's National League division series
The first two games were taken by Milwaukee, they’ve won almost every game played at home this regular season, though. Arizona took two in Phoenix, and took the lead in the third inning. Milwaukee answered in the fourth with a run and tied it. They took their own one-run lead in the sixth.
The typical Brewer formula was followed. Francsico Rodriguez, K Rod, took the eighth inning and although he got himself into trouble, he didn’t surrender a run. John Axford, a breakout star this season for the Brewers, took the ninth inning and had the series in his hands.
Gerardo Parra doubled to lead off the top of the ninth for Arizona. Sean Burroughs singled on a floating line drive to Ryan Braun and Parra went to third. The series was slipping from Axford’s fingers.
Willie Bloomquist singled on a bunt to Prince Fielder at first, Parra scored and tied the game at two. Axford struck out Aaron Hill for the first out of the inning, but the damage had been done. Arizona had stolen the win from the Brewers in Milwaukee. For the moment.
Justin Upton and Henry Blanco were forced into outs by Axford and the Diamondbacks were retired in the top of the ninth. In the bottom half the Brewers had Jerry Hairston, Yuniesky Betancourt and Jonathan Lucroy. Needless to say the bottom of the ninth was quick.
The top of the tenth went by almost as quick as the bottom of the ninth and the Brewers had another chance to win the game in the bottom of the tenth. The crown=d at Miller Park in Milwaukee buzzed with anticipation and roared when Carlos Gomez singled on a line drive to left field.
Nyjer Morgan was next.
Morgan hit .304 during the regular season for Milwaukee and has hit just .188 in October, 2011. Two hits in 15 at-bats walking to the plate with one out in the bottom of tenth.
Carlos Gomez stole second base, and almost took third when the ball got past Diamondbacks catcher, Miguel Montero. Morgan worked the count and waited for a good pitch from reliever J.J. Putz.
Morgan squared up a 1-2 fastball that slipped through the Arizona infield and on to Chris Young in center. He wound up and threw a bullet to home plate. Gomez, who was on second, was barreling around third now, trying to score the winning run for the Brewers.
A run meant a division title that hadn’t been sen in Milwaukee since 1982. Miguel Montero jumped to catch Chris Young’s throw from center. Carlos Gomez had 10 feet to win a division title. He slid through home plate, Montero’s tag just late.
Milwaukee moved on in a 10 inning masterpiece. A fantastic display of postseason baseball where a team wins the game rather than a team losing the game for themselves. Arizona played well and made few mistakes in this series. One thing they could have done was not pitch to Prince Fielder in game one and two in Milwaukee. Kirk Gibson learned his lesson when Fielder hit a home run to deep right field propelling the Brewers to a win.
The Brewers will move on to the National League Championship Series, where they hope to continue their dominance at home and their competitiveness on the road. If the Brewers can steal a win on the road in the NLCS, they will win and move on to the World Series.