The Milwaukee Brewers increased their lead in the National League Central Division to 8.5 games by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 on Wednesday night. The St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates all lost while the Cincinnati Reds won their fourth game in a row. At 68-52, Milwaukee is the only team in the NL Central with a winning record. Both the Reds and Cardinals are 60-61.
The Brewers’ win snapped a three-game losing streak. It also kept Milwaukee from losing four games in a row for the first time this season.
It was not a perfect win, nor was it a clean game from either team. However, the Brewers now have a chance to earn a series split when they take on the Dodgers again on Thursday afternoon.
Milwaukee Brewers Starter Frankie Montas Overcomes a Rough First Inning to Have a Solid Start
The Brewers, once again, earned their victory in come-from-behind fashion after starter Frankie Montas had a rough first inning.
To be fair, it is easy to have a rough first inning against the Dodgers, whose first three hitters were Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. These three players combined cost over $1 billion and have won a combined four MVP Awards.
Montas gave up three runs (none of them earned) in the first inning and it looked like the game would get ugly. However, Montas kept the Dodgers off the board for the rest of the night, finishing with a line of five innings pitched, five hits, three unearned runs, three walks, and six strikeouts.
The Brewers offense was able to overcome the three-run deficit in the second inning. First baseman Jake Bauers launched his 10th home run of the season to make the score 3-1. It was the only earned run given up by Dodgers pitchers all night.
Sal Frelick reached on an error and then scored on a Brice Turang triple. The Brewers’ second baseman, who also stole his 34th base of the season during the game, scored a Jackson Chourio broken-bat single.
Milwaukee took a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning after Garrett Mitchell scored on a Joey Ortiz grounder that was botched by Dodgers third baseman Enrique Hernandez.
Jared Koenig gave up the lead in the seventh when Miguel Rojas singled home Betts. However, the Brewers took the lead back in the bottom of the inning on another Chourio single. With Ortiz on second base, Chourio lined a single the other way to right field. Betts, who was playing right field after starting the game at second, over ran the ball, allowing Ortiz to come around to score.
Devin Williams entered for the ninth inning for a showdown with the Dodgers’ most fearsome hitters.
Milwaukee Brewers Closer Devin Williams Retired Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman on 7 Pitches
As Brewers fans are well-aware, All-Star closer Devin Williams missed most of the 2024 season as he recovered from stress fractures in his back. Tonight’s game against the Dodgers was just his fifth appearance of the season.
And what an appearance it was!
Los Angeles had the top of their batting order due up in the ninth inning: Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman. Milwaukee led 5-4, but with those players ready to bat, a one-run lead did not seem like enough.
But it was.
Williams mowed through the Dodgers’ sluggers on just seven pitches. He got Ohtani to fly out to left on the second pitch of his at bat. He then struck out Betts on three pitches, all of them fastballs. Finally, he got Freeman to ground out to second base on the second pitch of his own at bat
Seven pitches. Three outs.
Win.
Milwaukee Brewers Closer Devin Williams Goes Viral for His Dominant Save Against the Los Angeles Dodgers
The fact that Williams got the save against the Dodgers’ best three hitters was an impressive feat in and of itself. However, getting them all out on just seven pitches was nothing short of phenomenal.
Brewers fans, and baseball fans in general, expressed their admiration for Milwaukee’s stud closer on social media after the game:
Devin Williams is him
— Philly Sports 🐐 (@edp445678910) August 15, 2024
Wow Devin Williams
— Evanyea17 🌲🦌🦅 (@Evanyes171) August 15, 2024
Man Devin Williams is so good
— Austin Brown (@aaustinnn__) August 15, 2024
Ohtani. Betts. Freeman.
Devin Williams just collected the ultimate save. 😤 pic.twitter.com/BxrQPlZHDq
— No Community Notes (@nocommunitynote) August 15, 2024
Devin Williams. Straight filth. #ThisIsMyCrew
— Ryan (@StillyRyan) August 15, 2024
The save was Williams’ second of the season. He now has a 1.80 ERA in five games since his return from injury.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
