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BASEBALL-MLB
Buehler’s day on as Dodgers advance, Brewers down Cubs
LOS ANGELES, Oct 2, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Walker Buehler stifled the Colorado Rockies as the Los Angeles Dodgers unleashed their hitting power in a division-clinching 5-2 tiebreaker victory on Monday.
Dodgers rookie Buehler produced a pitching masterclass to keep the Rockies offense in a vice-like grip and provide the platform for his team’s formidable hitting line-up in an emphatic win at Dodger Stadium.
Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy both blasted two-run homers for the Dodgers while Buehler capped a superb individual display by uncorking an RBI single which allowed Kike Hernandez to scramble home for a 5-0 lead in the sixth inning.
The Dodgers, beaten by the Houston Astros in the World Series last year, will now advance to a best-of-five divisional series against the Atlanta Braves starting in Los Angeles on Thursday.
The Rockies will head to Chicago on Tuesday to face the Cubs in the wild card game, with the winner advancing to a series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Rockies and Dodgers had set up a decisive tie-breaker game for the NL West title after finishing the regular season level with identical 91-71 records on Sunday.
With the 24-year-old Buehler dominant at the mound, the Dodgers took control when Bellinger smashed a 95-mph fastball from German Marquez into right center-field for a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth.
Muncy then doubled the Dodgers lead in the fifth with another two-run blast before Buehler’s RBI in the sixth made it 5-0.
The Dodgers were given a scare when closer Kenley Jansen was pounded for home runs by Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story in the ninth with no outs.
Jansen recovered however to get the final three outs and wrap up the Dodgers sixth straight divisional title.
In Monday’s other tie-breaker game, the Brewers sealed their first divisional title since 2011 with a tense 3-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Milwaukee opened the scoring in the third inning when star slugger Christian Yelich singled to center field to send Orlando Arcia home.
Chicago hit back to level in the fifth inning when Anthony Rizzo blasted a solo home run into right field to make it 1-1.
With pitching units dominant, the breakthrough came in the eighth inning shortly after Cubs skipper Joe Maddon replaced Jesse Chavez with Justin Wilson on the mound.
Arcia singled on a ground ball to reach first before pinch-hitter Domingo Santana doubled to leave the Brewers with men on second and third with no outs.
Steve Cishek then replaced Wilson for the Cubs to staunch the situation but Lorenzo Cain singled with a line drive to allow Arcia to score for a 2-1 lead.
The Brewers stretched the lead to 3-1 shortly afterwards when Ryan Braun drove to centre-field for an RBI single that brought Santana home.
The Brewers then looked to Josh Hader to shut down the Cubs in the final two innings, and the All-Star pitcher duly delivered, getting the final six outs to see Milwaukee home.
BSS/AFP/AU/09:40 hrs