Willy Adames homers twice as Brewers beat D-backs

PHOENIX — Willy Adames is determined to play in all 162 games this season, and with the production the 29-year-old had at the plate on Saturday night, it will be nearly impossible to keep him out of the lineup the rest of the way.

Stepping up to the plate in the second inning with a four-run lead, Milwaukee’s prized shortstop pounced on the first pitch he saw from D-backs starter Brandon Pfaadt. Adames trotted and watched as the ball entered left-center field while holding his bat. When the ball finally reached the seats, he smoothly flipped his bat toward the Brewers’ dugout.

It wasn’t the last time he rounded the bases as he went deep again in the fourth inning en route to a 15-8 victory over the D-backs at a closed-roof Chase Field. The win and a Cubs’ loss brings the Brewers’ magic number to clinch the National League Central over the Cubs down to three, and they have the chance to sweep the team that eliminated them in last year’s NL Wild Card on Sunday.

Adames finished the night 3-for-3 with a walk and five RBIs before being replaced by Andruw Monasterio in the sixth inning. He slugged his 31st and 32nd homers of the season, tying and setting a new career high for the Dominican shortstop.

“It’s been such a special year for me and the team,” Adames said in a postgame interview with Bally Sports Wisconsin. “I think we have a special group of guys, and it’s been such an amazing ride this year. We’ve had some tough moments but we find a way to overcome those moments, just put up some runs and have some fun.”

Adames knocked in his 107th RBI of the season, which leads the National League and needs to drive in six more runs to tie Hall of Famer Robin Yount’s franchise record (113) for most RBIs in a single season by a Brewers shortstop. Adames is also just two steals shy of becoming the first Brewers shortstop with a 30 home run, 20 stolen-base season. His play isn’t just leaving a mark in the Brewers’ clubhouse, but also the rest of the league.

He ranks 17th among position players in FanGraphs’ version of Wins Above Replacement (4.7) and his 32 home runs are tied with Pete Alonso for the 11th-most in the Majors. His 124 wRC+ is sixth-best among shortstops, trailing only Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson, Corey Seager, Francisco Lindor and Trea Turner.

Adames is set for free agency this offseason, and what he’s done at the plate will earn him lucrative contract offers from many different teams. Since 2021, he is tied with Corey Seager for the most homers (112) in MLB among primary shortstops (50% of their games at short since 2021).

But with Milwaukee being so close to clinching the division and punching its ticket to the postseason, Adames is going to enjoy the fun that comes with the chase, adding that it’s the most fun he’s had his entire career.

“It’s been special and amazing, especially because we’re winning,” Adames said. “I think that’s the most important thing. Numbers are great, but if you’re not winning, they’re not as fun when you are winning. And we’re doing that.”

As strong as Adames’ night was, the score proves that it was an all-around team offensive outburst. Garrett Mitchell knocked in his sixth homer of the year and reached base five times, and William Contreras drove in four runs — two of which came on his 22nd long ball of the season.

Sal Frelick got one hit but made a sensational catch in right-center field that robbed Corbin Carroll of a home run in the first inning. After that play, the Brewers went on to put up seven runs in the second inning, which included Adames’ grand slam.

The offensive showing from the team was crucial when you consider that the Brewers were averaging about three runs in their previous 11 games this month.

“I think it’s infectious when you have guys putting together quality at-bats,” Mitchell said. “So obviously it’s not like we’re going to go out there every night, put up numbers like that, but it was really nice to see after just this last week or so, like not being who we know we can be. So it was awesome to see.”