The Milwaukee Brewers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in Tuesday night's National League Wild Card game, but the Washington Nationals struck last.
Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning and Eric Thames hit a solo blast in the second as the Brewers got out to a fast start. Max Scherzer then righted himself and Stephen Strasburg came out of the bullpen to pitch three scoreless innings as the Nationals advanced to face the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Milwaukee out-hit Washington 7-5, but committed two errors.
Trea Turner chipped into the lead with a home run in the third inning, but the biggest frame of the game was the eighth.
With the bases loaded, Juan Soto singled off closer Josh Hader. The hit scored three runs with two outs in the inning as Brewers rookie outfielder Trent Grisham was charged with an error. Soto’s singled dribbled past Grisham in right field, allowing the Nationals to take the lead.
Daniel Hudson then came on in the top of the ninth to close the door on Milwaukee’s season.
The Nationals will open their best-of-five series against the Dodgers on Thursday in Los Angeles with Patrick Corbin expected to start. They’ll return home on Sunday and Monday for the third and fourth games of the NLDS.
The Brewers, meanwhile, enter the offseason with Christian Yelich on the mend from a season-ending injury and third-inning hero Thames set to hit free agency.