One week after lifting their first World Series championship trophy, the Milwaukee Brewers closed out the 2016 MLB playoffs with an 11-2 record, a path to the title defined by key moments that experts said seemed to tilt in the team’s favor.
Chourio’s Coup That Changed the Course
One of the most iconic moments of the postseason occurred in a wild-card game. Ty France hit a ball that bounced off the roof of American Family Field, a play that looked destined to be a hit. However, Jackson Chourio chased down the ball and made the catch, securing the Brewers’ victory. At the same time, it was a moment when I felt Milwaukee was destined to win.
, Bradford Doolittle, who was present for most of the Brewers’ postseason games, commented. Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy joked that it was as if Bob Uecker, from beyond the grave, had reached out to deflect that ball.
The Battle of Bauers that Decided the NLCS
The National League Championship Series (NLCS) between the Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers was shaping up to be the series that would determine the eventual champion. After losing the first game, the Dodgers were counting on Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start the second. However, the turning point came in the bottom of the third inning. Jake Bauers battled relentlessly on a 3-2 count, fouling off six pitches before finally drawing a walk after 12 pitches. That knocked Yamamoto out of the fight.
Christian Yelich singled, David Schoenfield said. Yamamoto’s early exit allowed the Brewers to regain control against the Dodgers’ secondary relievers, winning both games in which Skubal and Yamamoto started.
The Fifth Inning That Secured the Title
If anything defined the 2026 Milwaukee Brewers, it was the fifth inning of Game 3 of the World Series. After Christian Yelich’s excellent baserunning instincts prevented the inning from ending in a force play at second, the Brewers strung together a series of hits with two outs, scoring eight runs and extending a 2-0 lead to 10-0. It wasn’t just a one-off moment; it was 26 nightmarish minutes for Tampa Bay.
And those minutes gave rise to an undeniable moment: the one in which the Rays understood just how different these Brewers really were.
, Jeff Passan pointed out. This inning solidified the Brewers’ dominance in the World Series.
More on Milwaukee Brewers
THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS ARE 2026 WORLD SERIES #CHAMPIONS! (MLB x @BudweiserUSA) pic.twitter.com/jaQJs0Mzxw
