Brice Turang’s two-run homer provided the go-ahead runs and the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen combined for six hitless innings to preserve a 3-2 victory over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.
Milwaukee (102-59), which has won four straight National League Central Division titles, has clinched a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Brewers, who have had a winning record each month of the season, improved to 17-6 in September.
Turang put Milwaukee in front 3-2 in the fifth with a two-run homer off Cardinals starter Quinn Mathews (2-4). Jackson Chourio dribbled a two-out single in front of home plate, and Turang followed with his 21st homer, sending the first pitch 421 feet to center.
Brewers starter Dustin May, acquired from St. Louis at the trade deadline, gave up all three Cardinals hits and allowed two runs in three innings before exiting after 58 pitches.
Left-hander Kyle Harrison (11-5), whose second-half struggles cost him a spot in the rotation, followed with two scoreless innings for his first victory since Aug. 18. JoJo Romero and Antonio Senzatela combined for two scoreless innings, and Aaron Ashby covered the final two innings for his fourth save.
Mathews allowed three runs on five hits in five innings, striking out seven and walking two.
The Cardinals (77-84) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Jordan Walker hit a leadoff single and stole second base. Thomas Saggese’s two-out single to left scored Walker.
Alec Burleson put St. Louis up 2-0 in the third with his 26th homer and third in three games, a two-out solo shot to right-center off May.
The Brewers got one back in the bottom half when Brandon Lockridge doubled to open, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and came home on Chourio’s RBI single to right.