Brewers Fans Rally Behind Braun’s Call to Action, Help Propel Brewers to First NLCS Since 2018

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MILWAUKEE – Former Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun put out a rallying cry to Brewers fans Saturday Afternoon in an interview with local radio affiliate 97.3-FM The Game (WRNW) ahead of the Brewers’ clash with the Chicago Cubs in Game 5 of the National League Division Series (NLDS), with the winner earning the right to play the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the next round.

“I can’t possibly overstate the impact (the fans) could potentially have on tonight’s game,” Braun said. “It’s real, it’s tangible, as players we feed off that energy…you can help will this team to victory.”

Ryan Braun’s Brewers Fan Message. Source: 97.3-FM The Game [@TheGameMKE]

Braun’s comments came following the Brewers’ squandering of a 2-0 series lead by dropping games three and four of the NLDS at Wrigley Field on Wednesday and Thursday night, respectively. The home team had won every game in this series up to this point, and as a former player, he knows that home-field advantage is critical in the playoffs.

Brewers fans did hear his call and took his advice to heart, as they headed toward American Family Field that evening with a renewed spirit to do everything in their power to will their Brewers to victory.

Fans gathering at American Family Field prior to game 5. Photo: Stephen Wielebski

“We’ve got to do this for [Bob] Uecker,” Racine resident Logan Jeppesen said.

Meanwhile, Brewers fan Jim Tremmel decided to bring his German shepherd, Mila, to the game as a good luck charm for the Brew Crew. He’s been bringing dogs to Brewers games for 38 years as part of his motorcycling adventures that he has been chronicling on Facebook since 2013.

“Every time I bring Mila, the Brewers win,” Tremmel said.

Jim Tremmel and his dog Mila. Photo: Stephen Wielebski

That streak would remain unblemished, as a standing room only crowd of 42,743 watched the Brewers defeat the Cubs 3-1 to advance to the National League Championship Series (NLCS)for the first time since 2018.

Brewers All-Star reliever Trevor Megill, who started the game for the Brewers on Saturday night, set the tone early by retiring the first three Cubs hitters in order in the top half of the first inning, keeping the Cubs scoreless in the first inning for the first time in the series.

Brewers catcher William Contreras homered off of Cubs pitcher Drew Pomeranz, who was another reliever making a start in this game, into the Brewers’ bullpen to put the Brewers up 1-0 in the bottom half of the first inning.

Brewers fans celebrating William Contreras’s 1st inning Home Run. Photo: Stephen Wielebski

The Brewers would turn things over to fellow All-Star pitcher Jacob Misiorowski in the second inning, who surrendered a home run to Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki to tie the game at 1-1. However, Misiorowski would settle in the rest of his outing, as he would go on to pitch four innings and allow only two other hits while striking out three Cubs in the process.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn was able to take Cubs pitcher and former Brewer Colin Rea deep to left field on a ball that just snuck over the left field wall and the outstretched glove of Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, making the score 2-1 Brewers.

Brewers fan hyped up by Andrew Vaughn’s go-ahead home run in the 4th inning. Photo: Stephen Wielebski

Brewers second baseman Bryce Turang, who entered the game collecting just two hits in 16 at-bats in the NLDS, would add some insurance for the Brewers in the bottom of the 7th by hitting a moonshot off of Cubs reliever Andrew Kittredge off the batter’s eye in center to set things at 3-1 Brewers.

Brewers reliever Abner Uribe would record the final six outs of the game on the mound for the Brewers, getting Cubs catcher Carson Kelly to ground out to Brewers shortstop Joey Ortiz for the final out of the game to officially send the Brewers into an NLCS rematch with the Dodgers from 2018. It was also Uribe’s first career postseason save.

It was the first time in MLB division series history since 2011, when the Brewers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, that the home team won every single game of the five-game series.

Brewers fans dancing in celebration following their 3-1 win over the Cubs. Photo: Stephen Wielebski

The scene outside of American Family Field was electric following the win. Some fans were dancing in the parking lots, some were hugging each other, and some were drinking to their hearts’ content in celebration. Then there were those like Julie Olson, who were fondly reminiscing about Brewer postseasons past that they’ve experienced and how this win adds to those memories.

“I was here for the 1982 World Series clincher against the Anaheim Angels,” Olson said. “I still remember the ball going into Cecil Cooper’s glove for the final out and Milwaukee County Stadium erupting in joy. It was great to be here tonight and have a similar experience to that.”

Brewers fans celebrating at the Bob Uecker statue. Photo Stephen Wielebski

It also didn’t take long for Brewers fans after the game to set their sights on the Dodgers.

“Momentum is a fickle being,” West Allis resident Brett Bailey said. “We’re going to be here on Monday, and we’re about to run the table.”

The Brewers begin the NLCS against the Dodgers on Monday at American Family Field. First Pitch is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. local time.