Braun's HR has Brewers on verge of division title

Milwaukee, WI – Ryan Braun stood at home plate for a brief moment, raised his bat high in the air and celebrated a mammoth hit that has the Brewers on the verge of their first division title in 29 years.

Braun's titanic three-run homer off the scoreboard in center field broke a tie in the eighth inning and sent Milwaukee to a 4-1 win over the Florida Marlins.

The victory secured the Brewers at least a tie for the NL Central title. It can be theirs tonight if St. Louis falters at home to the Chicago Cubs. The Brewers haven't been division champions since capturing the AL East in 1982, on the way to a World Series appearance.

With two outs in the ninth inning, fans went ballistic at Miller Park when the scoreboard flashed that the Cubs took a 4-1 lead over the Cardinals in the eighth inning on the strength of Alfonso Soriano's three-run blast.

Moments later, John Axford added to Milwaukee's magical season by fanning Bryan Petersen to notch his 44th save, tying a franchise record held by Francisco Cordero (2007).