All my Rowdy friends, the Milwaukee Brewers Rowdy Tellez gets congratulations after knocking in the game winning runner Avisail Garcia with a walk off single in the tenth inning on Fri Aug 6, 2021 at Miller Park in Milwaukee (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

MILWAUKEE—In what could be a possible NLCS preview, the two division leaders in the National League lived up to its billing.

Rowdy Tellez singled in the tenth inning to drive in Avisail Garcia as the Milwaukee Brewers walked off with a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday evening at Miller Park.

San Francisco (69-41) had its two game winning streak snapped and remain with the best record in baseball. Milwaukee have two in a row and four of its last five games.

Runs came a premium on this night as both starting pitchers were excellent for their respective teams.

The Brewers (66-44)Corbin Burnes pitched seven innings only giving up one run on four hits while striking out five and walking one. The only mistake was a solo home run he gave up to Brandon Belt in the sixth inning.

“He was executing his pitchers tonight,” said Mike Yastrzemski. “He was throwing 96mph cutters that almost crossed over the entire plate.”

His counterpart Logan Webb matched him by throwing up zeros of his own. The Roseville, Calif. native went six innings giving up one earned one only three hits while striking out nine batters and walking one on 91 pitches.

“I think the trust is building,” said Giants general manager Gabe Kapler on Webb going deep into the game. “He’s essentially pretty much done what has been asked of him. He’s been more aggressive with all of his offerings. I think the more of this we see, the more confident we’re going to get in the later inning.”

The only mistake Webb had was giving up a second inning solo home run to Garcia.

“I think I had the stuff today to go seven or eight (innings),” said Webb. “It’s frustrating not being able to go seven or eight and give these guys more innings but it’s always a priority and something me and Kap (Kapler) and other guys have talked about.”

Both bullpens did their part to keep the game scoreless from the seventh to the ninth innings. Dominic Leone, Tyler Rodgers and Jake McGee allowed the Giants to play free baseball. While the home team consisting of Brad Boxberger, Devin Williams and Brent Suter (1-0) pitched four scoreless innings to set up Tellez’s heroics in the 10th inning.

Right fielder Mike Yastrzemski made a spectacular catch jumping up against the wall to rob Yellez of an extra base hit in the fourth inning. He was slow to get up and winced in pain but stayed in the game. The Brewers fans gave him a standing ovation for his effort.

Jarlin Garcia (3-3) suffered the hard luck loss after giving up the base hit to Tellez.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco left seven men on base. Milwaukee left five men.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Brewers continue their three game series on Saturday 8/7 at 4:10pm from Miller Park. Pitching matchup-SF-TBD vs MIL-Brett Anderson.