As the Milwaukee Brewers sit squarely in the Chicago Cubs’ rearview mirror, already having shot past the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central standings, there is little doubt they are poised for a pennant chase.

But can the Brewers win the race?

Three weeks ago that would have been difficult to predict.

Today it is a very real possibility.

Milwaukee, 57-43 through July 22, is 14 games above .500 at Miller Park. That’s no surprise. The Brewers have feasted on home cooking for a while. What is a mild shocker is the Brewers’ .500 road record after a 4-3 victory at St. Louis on Tuesday night.

It wasn’t the win that impressed so much. It was the manner in which they did it.

For a second straight night Milwaukee came from behind to win on the road against a top-notch division opponent.

And, for a second straight night, they did so with guts, guile and the home-run swing of Bill Hall.

Milwaukee manager Ned Yost decided to platoon Hall with left-handed hitter Russell Branyan at third base. For weeks, Hall couldn’t catch up to right-handed pitching with a butterfly net. Hall’s prolonged slump and subsequent pouting forced Yost’s hand.

Now it is Branyan that has cooled off and Hall who has picked up the pace.

That is what pennant-winning teams do.