Christian Yelich was driving force in Brewers NLDS Game 1 win
You won’t find a more locked-in batter entering the MLB playoffs than Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich.
The National League’s Player of the Month in September continued his torrid stretch in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies, smashing a two-run home run and later scoring the winning run in Milwaukee’s 3-2, Game 1 victory.
The third-inning home run against Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela gave Milwaukee an early 2-0 lead. That lead would remain until the ninth inning, when Colorado rallied to tie against Brewers closer Jeremy Jeffress.
Leading off the tenth inning, Yelich produced a plate appearance just as big. He worked an 0-2 count into a walk against high-strikeout reliever Adam Ottavino. Yelich was wild-pitched to second base, and then scored the winning run on Mike Moustakas two-out, walk-off single.
Yelich, 26, went from dark horse MVP candidate to begin September, to the clear favorite by month’s end after hitting .370/.508/.804 over his final 27 games. During that stretch, Yelich hit a league best 10 homers and drove in 34 runs. He locked up the NL’s batting title (.326), and nearly made it a triple crown, falling two home runs short of the Rockies Nolan Arenado and one RBI short of the Chicago Cubs Javier Báez.
Given the hot streak Yelich is on right now, you’d think the Rockies might be wise to consider taking the bat out of his hands every chance they get. However, as we saw in the tenth inning in Game 1, the Brewers loaded lineup makes it difficult for opponents to work around a particular hitter.
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