Milwaukee Brewers Shock League with Record-Breaking Ninth-Inning Rally — See How the Playoff Race Just Changed

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers opened their final homestand before the All-Star break with a statement win, hammering the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-1 behind six shutout innings from staff ace Freddy Peralta and a dream debut from newly promoted slugger Andrew Vaughn. Peralta silences star-studded lineup Peralta mixed a riding four-seam fastball with a tighter slider to strike out eight, holding Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman hitless while retiring 12 of the final 13 batters he faced. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.87 and moved into the National League’s top five in strikeouts, a timely surge as Milwaukee jockeys with Chicago for first place in the NL Central. Vaughn writes instant history Hours after flying in from Triple-A Nashville, Vaughn turned on a first-pitch cutter from $325 million import Yoshinobu Yamamoto and deposited it into the left-field bleachers. He became only the fifth player in franchise history to homer in his first plate appearance and later added a two-run single, finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs. “I wanted to prove I belong,” Vaughn said postgame. “Doing it against a guy like Yamamoto makes it even sweeter.” Fast start buries Dodgers Milwaukee sent 10 men to the plate in a five-run first inning, chasing Yamamoto after just 34 pitches. Christian Yelich extended his on-base streak to 21 games with a double, and William Contreras lined a two-run single to center. With the Dodgers forced to empty their bullpen early, manager Craig Counsell’s club cruised the rest of the night. What it means for the standings The victory kept Milwaukee one game ahead of the surging Cubs and improved the club’s inter-league record to an NL-best 16-5. The Brewers also edged closer to the Braves for the No. 2 seed, a key tiebreaker because the top two seeds earn first-round byes under MLB’s new playoff format. Trade-deadline implications Sources indicate the front office remains in the market for a late-inning lefty, but Vaughn’s immediate impact could shift resources toward outfield depth instead of first base. With top prospect Jeferson Quero rehabbing and Brandon Woodruff set to rejoin the rotation in August, Milwaukee’s internal reinforcements could rival any splashy July 31 acquisition. Alumni Home Run Derby returns Friday’s series opener against Miami will be followed by the 25th Anniversary Alumni Home Run Derby, featuring Prince Fielder, Geoff Jenkins, and Ryan Braun. Organizers expect a near-sellout, adding to what projects to be the franchise’s highest July attendance since 2018. Looking ahead The Brewers close the Dodgers series on Wednesday before welcoming the Marlins for a pivotal four-game set. With Peralta and rookie phenom Jacob Misiorowski lining up to pitch twice before the break, Milwaukee has a chance to solidify division control and send multiple pitchers to Arlington for the Midsummer Classic. Key phrases for search discovery Milwaukee Brewers, Andrew Vaughn debut, Freddy Peralta shutout, Brewers vs Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggle, NL Central race, 2025 MLB standings, American Family Field, Brewers trade deadline rumors, Alumni Home Run Derby 2025.