MILWAUKEE, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Nyjer Morgan singled in Carlos Gomez from second in the 10th inning Friday, giving Milwaukee a 3-2 win over Arizona and a spot in the NL Championship Series.
The Brewers took a 2-1 advantage into the ninth inning of another dramatic post-season contest, gave up the lead and then came through with a run that ended the fifth and deciding game of the division series.
The National League Championship Series begins Sunday, with Milwaukee hosting the St. Louis. The Cardinals -- who rallied from 9 1/2 games behind in the wild-card race during September -- knocked out Philadelphia Friday with a 1-0 victory.
Craig Counsell opened the Milwaukee 10th by lining out to right against J.J. Putz, the Arizona closer who saved 46 games during the regular season. Gomez then singled in a 1-0 pitch and, with Morgan at the plate, stole second base. Morgan worked the count to 3-1 before hitting a hot grounder up the middle.
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The ball eluded a diving attempt to knock it down by shortstop Willie Bloomquist and center fielder Chris Young had no chance to throw out the speedy Gomez at home.
Milwaukee, which had not won a division title in 29 years before capturing this season's NL Central crown, will be playing for its first National League championship. The Brewers moved from the American League to the National in 1998.
Justin Upton gave Arizona the lead with a solo homer in the third, but Milwaukee tied it in the fourth on a sacrifice fly down the right field line that was caught by second baseman Aaron Hill. Yuniesky Betancourt singled in the go-ahead Milwaukee run in the sixth.
Arizona loaded the bases in the eighth with two out, but Francisco Rodriguez got Ryan Roberts on a fielder's choice grounder to end that threat.
The Diamondbacks managed to fight off defeat with a run in the ninth, but wasted a chance for more.
Gerardo Parra doubled to open the inning off John Axford and went to third on a base hit by Sean Burroughs. Bloomquist next put down a bunt along the first base line that he beat out for a hit, scoring Parra with the tying run.
That put runners on first and second with nobody out, but Axford retired the next three batters with the ball never leaving the infield. Axford became the winning pitcher when Milwaukee produced its run in the 10th.
