If not the playoffs, Brewers will at least have a winning season

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MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers clinched their second straight winning season last night with a 5-3 home victory over the San Diego Padres. It was the Crew’s 82nd win, assuring them of a finish above .500 after being 12 games under that mark on August 19th. The Brewers roared back into Wild Card contention by winning 28-of-their-last-40, but they were eliminated from the post-season on Sunday in a 7-0 loss to the Astros.

Jonathan Lucroy, Rickie Weeks, and Carlos Gomez all homered for the Brewers last night. It put them above 200 homers for the second straight year, and only the fifth time in Brewers’ history. Weeks hit a two-run shot, while the others were solo homers. Aramis Ramirez drove in Milwaukee’s other run with a single in the opening inning. Padres’ starter Clayton Richard belted his first career homer. But he took his second straight loss, giving up five runs on 10 hits in seven innings. Richard is now 14-14.

Shaun Marcum got the win in what could be his final start in a Brewers’ uniform. He’ll be a free agent after the season, and he’s not expected to re-up with Milwaukee. Marcum ended the year at 7-4 after giving up two runs in six innings. He earned his second win after being out for two months with tightness in his right throwing elbow. John Axford pitched the ninth for his 34th save. The Brewers and Padres will play their second-to-last games of the season tonight at Miller Park. Right-hander Tyler Thornburg will start for the Crew against Padres’ right-hander Anthony Bass.

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Brewers’ starter Chris Narveson will continue his pitching rehab in late October at the team’s complex in Arizona. Yesterday, the left-hander threw from a mound for the first time since he had surgery on his left rotator cuff five months ago today. He threw 20 fastballs, and said he felt great afterward. Narveson said he needs to get his arm strength back, and he plans to benefit from a longer spring training next year – which is scheduled because of the World Baseball Classic. The 30-year-old Narveson is 26-18 with a 4.67 ERA in parts of four seasons with Milwaukee.

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