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MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Richie Sexson ended an otherwise dismal season on a high note for the Milwaukee Brewers. Sexson tied a 22-year-old team record with his 45th home run and matched a career high with five RBI, powering the Brewers to a 15-5 rout of the playoff-bound Arizona Diamondbacks. The loss cost the Diamondbacks home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Milwaukee's 68-94 record was its worst in 17 years, but Sexson helped the Brewers avoid their first 95-loss season since 1977. "It's a good way to finish up. Everybody is feeling good about themselves," Milwaukee manager Davey Lopes said. "It was a frustrating season, we all realize that. But there's not much we can do about it now. We just have to get our heads straight and come prepared for spring training." After striking out and singling in his first two at-bats, the 26-year-old first baseman highlighted a 10-run fourth inning with a two-run blast. Sexson's home run tied Gorman Thomas' 1979 team record. Sexson and Jeromy Burnitz combined for 80 homers, matching the club mark for teammates set in 1980 by Thomas (38) and Ben Oglivie (42). Sexson also delivered a two-run single in the fifth and plated Elvis Pena with a groundout in the seventh. His 125 RBI are the second-highest total in Brewers' history, matching Burnitz's total in 1998. "There were some things I could have done better," said Sexson, who struck out 178 times this year. "I could have gotten a few more guys in and I could have struck out a few less times. There are some things I need to work on. "It's frustrating because I played on a team that's won before. You can have a good season and feel good personally, but if you ask any player, he'd say he'd rather win." Ben Sheets (11-10) capped an injury-marred rookie season with his first win since June 29. He gave up four runs -- three earned -- and eight hits in six innings to snap a personal six-game losing streak. Rookie Gary Knott (0-1) surrendered eight unearned runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings for the Diamondbacks, the National League West champions who will host the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday in Game One of their Division Series. "Monday, everybody is 0-0," Arizona righthander Curt Schilling said. "How hot you've been is meaningless. My goal right now is to be a six-game winner." Arizona left fielder Luis Gonzalez became the fourth player this season to collect 100 extra-base hits when he smacked a two-run homer in the top of the fourth. He finished with a team-record 57 homers and tied Matt Williams' club record with 125 RBI. "We've been playing so well. We have a lot of confidence right now," Gonzalez said. "The last two games is no indication of the way we've been playing. We've been looking ahead to the playoffs for two days." Mark Grace homered in the second inning to put the Diamondbacks in front and they added three runs in the fourth. After Gonzalez's two-run shot, Reggie Sanders reached on Pena's error at second base, took third on a single by Grace and scored on a sacrifice fly by Williams. But Milwaukee sent 14 men to the plate in the bottom half and took control. Sexson and Angel Echevarria singled with one out and an error by shortstop Craig Counsell loaded the bases. Mike Coolbaugh was hit by a pitch to force in a run and an error by first baseman Greg Colbrunn plated two runs. Sheets helped himself with a bunt single and an RBI groundout by James Mouton tied it. Pena followed with a two-run double and scored on a single by Geoff Jenkins that chased Knott. Sexson greeted veteran righthander Bobby Witt with his milestone home run before Echevarria doubled and scored on Collier's single. The Brewers finished five games behind last year's 73-89 record and were 26 games behind first-place Houston in the NL Central. "Things didn't work out this year, but that's the nature of the game," Lopes conceded.
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