AP

Brewers’ playoff hopes end despite 6-5 win over Diamondbacks

Oct 3, 2022, 8:19 AM | Updated: 9:23 pm

Milwaukee Brewers' Hunter Renfroe is congratulated after hitting a walk-off single during the 10th ...

Milwaukee Brewers' Hunter Renfroe is congratulated after hitting a walk-off single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 6-5. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

(AP Photo/Morry Gash)


              Milwaukee Brewers' Hunter Renfroe is congratulated after hitting a walk-off single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 6-5. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
            
              Milwaukee Brewers' Hunter Renfroe is congratulated after hitting a walk-off single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 6-5. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
            
              Milwaukee Brewers' Hunter Renfroe reacts after hitting a walk-off single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 6-5. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
            
              Milwaukee Brewers' Hunter Renfroe is congratulated after hitting a walk-off single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 6-5. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
            
              Arizona Diamondbacks' Sergio Alcantara is congratulated after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
            
              Arizona Diamondbacks' Sergio Alcantara hits a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
            
              Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker hits a double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
            
              Milwaukee Brewers' Luis Urias hits a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
            
              Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich is congratulatedf in the dugout after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
            
              Arizona Diamondbacks' Cooper Hummel reacts after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
            
              Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Tommy Henry throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
            
              Arizona Diamondbacks' Sergio Alcantara reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers’ dramatic late-inning comeback could only keep their playoff hopes alive for another nine minutes.

Hunter Renfroe homered in a ninth-inning rally and singled home the winning run in the 10th, but the Brewers were eliminated from postseason contention on Monday night despite a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Brewers knew at the start of the night they could earn the NL’s final wild-card spot only if they won their last three games while Philadelphia lost three straight. Milwaukee’s chances ended soon after their walk-off when the Phillies (87-73) beat the Houston Astros 3-0 to clinch their first playoff appearance since 2011.

“We did our part and battled to the end here and found a way to win a game,” said Christian Yelich, who also homered for the Brewers. “But obviously, it’s bittersweet when it ends up not meaning much because Philly took care of business.”

Miwaukee missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017. The Brewers led the NL Central for much of the season and had a four-game advantage on the morning of July 31 but have gone just 28-31 since.

“We don’t really have anyone else to blame but ourselves,” Yelich said. “We just didn’t get the job done.”

The Brewers really hurt their cause over the weekend by losing three of four at home against Miami, with the three losses decided by a total of four runs.

“We stayed in the fight, and I think tonight was an example of that,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “This past weekend against Miami, it just felt like we couldn’t for some reason, they wouldn’t let us over the hump. Frankly, it’s felt like that for awhile. That one step forward, one step back, that kind of feeling that we had, it felt like that this weekend. We just seemed so close to taking that next step forward. Like this weekend showed, we just couldn’t do it.”

Sergio Alcántara had a homer and three RBIs for Arizona, and Cooper Hummel also homered.

Milwaukee (85-75) trailed 4-1 in the ninth before tying the game with help from a two-out Arizona error.

Renfroe led off the ninth with a homer off Joe Mantiply, and Yelich followed with a single. After Andrew McCutchen lined to center, Kolten Wong walked.

The runners advanced when Mantiply retired Rowdy Tellez on a bouncer to first. Victor Caratini hit a hard grounder that got past first baseman Christian Walker, with both Yelich and Wong coming home on the error.

“Obviously Walker is one of the best first basemen in baseball defensively,” Hummel said. “It just didn’t go our way. They took advantage.”

Reyes Moronta replaced Mantiply and retired Jace Peterson on a grounder to second.

Daulton Varsho’s one-out single off Brad Boxberger (4-3) brought home Hummel to help Arizona regain the lead in the 10th.

Milwaukee responded in the bottom half. After Omar Narváez drew a leadoff walk from Moronta (2-2), Willy Adames lined a single to right that scored Peterson from second and advanced Narváez to third. Renfroe then lined a single to left to end the game.

“We mounted a real nice comeback tonight,” Counsell said. “A little bit improbable, really.”

Arizona wasted an exceptional outing from Tommy Henry, who struck out five and allowed one run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings.

“The slider was a little bit better tonight than it has been through most of the year,” Henry said. “That always helps.”

Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff allowed two runs and one walk while striking out seven in six innings. He has given up just seven runs over 39 innings in his last six starts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers RHP Justin Topa went on the injured list with a bruised left ankle. The Brewers recalled RHP Jake Cousins from Triple-A Nashville.

UP NEXT

RHP Zac Gallen (12-3, 2.46 ERA) pitches for Arizona and LHP Eric Lauer (10-7, 3.83) starts for Milwaukee as this series continues Tuesday night.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Brewers’ playoff hopes end despite 6-5 win over Diamondbacks