Second-half surge has Brewers in position for their earliest clinching date in franchise history, by far

For those who haven’t paid close attention, the Milwaukee Brewers’ magic number has been shrinking more rapidly than a cheap cotton T-shirt in an unattended dryer.

When the Brewers finished off a three-game sweep of Cleveland with an 11-1 romp Sunday afternoon and the foundering Cincinnati Reds fell in St. Louis, 2-0, Milwaukee’s magic number suddenly was down to five. Both teams were off Monday, so that will remain the number to clinch the NL Central when the Brewers open a two-game series Tuesday in Detroit.

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