'We're close': Crew's magic number stuck at one

MIAMI – The champagne was on ice in the visitors' clubhouse at loanDepot park on Saturday, and it remained there, uncorked.

Needing either a victory over the Marlins or a Cubs loss to the Rockies to clinch the National League Central, the Brewers got neither. Chicago came from behind for a win at Wrigley Field before Milwaukee's own comeback bid was foiled in a 5-4 loss to Miami, spoiling personal milestones for Carlos Santana and Christian Yelich and leaving the Crew’s magic number to win the division stuck at one.

• Games remaining (7): at MIA (1), vs. STL (3), vs. CHC (3)
• Standings update: The Brewers (88-67) hold a seven-game lead over the Cubs (81-74) for first place in the National League Central. Milwaukee is the third-best division leader in the NL, meaning it would host a best-of-three NL Wild Card Series against the final Wild Card entrant starting on Oct. 3.
• Magic number: The Brewers' magic number over the Cubs to clinch the division title is one.

Yelich tallied two more hits to reach 1,500 for his career and Santana became the 10th switch-hitter in AL/NL history to reach 300 home runs in epic fashion, with a three-run game-tying home run to cap Milwaukee’s four-run sixth inning. But the Brewers couldn’t add on, and the Marlins scored in the bottom of the eighth to delay the celebration.

“It’s kind of crazy the amount of emotions you go from scoring 16 runs,” said Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff, referencing Milwaukee’s playoff-clinching 16-1 win the night before, “to losing a game like this when you know you’ve got the division to win.

“You know what? It’s one of them ‘baseball days.’ You move on.”

The Brewers will try again on Sunday behind the third of their “Big Three” starting pitchers, Freddy Peralta. He’s 6-1 with a 1.96 ERA in his past 10 starts, including a Sept. 12 win over the Marlins in Milwaukee.

Saturday’s loss went to Joel Payamps, the setup man who was so reliable for the Brewers throughout the first five months of the season but appears to be wearing down in September. A leadoff walk in the eighth, a hit and a run-scoring wild pitch gave the Marlins the lead for good and put an earned run on Payamps’ ledger for the third time in his past four outings, as well as the fourth time in his eight outings this month. He’s allowed at least one hit in 14 consecutive appearances.

The Brewers still have baseball’s best record since Aug. 18 (23-10), but if there’s a weak spot, it might be some of the setup relief prior to lights-out closer Devin Williams.

Elvis Peguero, a bright spot earlier this year who ascended to seventh-inning duties, was lightly-used for most of September month before landing on the 15-day injured list earlier this road trip with swelling around his right elbow. The Brewers expect him to be ready to pitch in the NL Wild Card Series.

And Payamps, second on the team with 67 appearances and second among Brewers relievers with 68 2/3 innings, has seen his velocity and arm slot dip in recent weeks.

“It’s not been a loud contact issue here,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s getting ahead of a hitter and not making a pitch, or falling behind a hitter with a walk. The ball in play has not been overly concerning, really.”

Then there was Woodruff, who is in line for one more start in the regular season after he allowed four runs on six hits over five innings, including Jake Burger’s three-run homer in the first. Woodruff departed after 87 pitches with the Brewers facing a 4-0 deficit.

Most concerning, Woodruff drew a visit from Counsell and the athletic training staff in the second inning when his velocity was down. He missed four months earlier this season with a strained muscle behind his shoulder, and Saturday marked his first stumble since he returned.

“I’ll tell you what brought them out [to the mound], a 90 mph fastball and a 91 [mph fastball],” Woodruff said. “I haven’t done that in a while. The ball just wasn’t coming out good in the second inning. Physically, there was nothing wrong. I told them, ‘Look, I don’t know what’s going on. The ball’s just not coming out good.’ But I was able to get through the inning, and then the last couple of innings, it was starting to come out a little bit better.”

The loss complicated emotions for Santana and Yelich after they each reached career milestones. For Yelich, hustling for an infield hit at the stadium formerly known as Marlins Park was a full-circle moment for the former Marlin. He subtly secured the baseball for his collection without disrupting a budding Brewers rally in the seventh.

Santana, too, went home with his milestone baseball after Brewers equipment manager Jason Shawger helped connect the veteran slugger with the fan who wound up with the ball in the center field seats.

“I know my team lost, but I’m happy for that -- getting 300 home runs. I was working so hard for that,” Santana said. “I’m sorry, I’m emotional. Especially today -- my dad called me today to support me.”

Santana would like to speak with reporters again Sunday, this time with good news for the team. The Brewers are on the cusp of winning the NL Central for the third time in the past six seasons.

“We’re close,” Santana said.