In a surprising turn of events, the Milwaukee Brewers found themselves relying on their underdogs in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series. The bottom of the seventh inning saw struggling veteran players Willy Adames, William Contreras, and Rhys Hoskins go 1-for-10 on the night and 4-for-32 in the series. In a bold move, manager Pat Murphy called upon Jake Bauers to pinch-hit against Mets right-hander José Buttó. Bauers had only batted .199 during the regular season.
Bauers stepped up to the plate with a smile on his face, ready to make a difference. He and teammate Frelick hit back-to-back pitches for home runs, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead with six outs remaining. These homers could have been historic for the team if not for an unfortunate turn of events in the ninth inning.
Reflecting on his performance, Bauers expressed mixed emotions: “That’s up there with the birth of my child, for sure… I just really wish we could still be playing.” This unexpected success raises questions about unlikely heroes and their impact on games.
The Brewers owed their tie game in the seventh inning to another underdog player named Tobias Myers. Despite coming off a disappointing season where he went 1-15, Myers signed a two-year Minor League contract with Milwaukee at the end of 2022. Initially overlooked by Murphy as one of their top pitchers for this year’s roster, Myers proved himself invaluable after injuries sidelined other key players.
Myers delivered an impressive performance against the Mets by pitching five scoreless innings on just two hits and no walks. His stellar debut made him one of only five pitchers in postseason history to achieve such success in winner-take-all games.
Despite losing dramatically to New York, Myers acknowledged that baseball is an unpredictable game: ”It’s a crazy game we play… We knew that Mets weren’t going to lay down and give up.” This thrilling series showcased why coaches like Connor Dawson continue to find joy in baseball’s unpredictability: “Anything can happen… That’s beauty.”
this unexpected display from underdogs like Bauers and Myers highlights how mental toughness and persistence can lead to remarkable performances on any given day.
