MILWAUKEE -- Mike Brosseau and Luke Voit haven’t necessarily starred in the Brewers’ defensive renaissance, but they made the play that needed to be made on Friday night. The Brewers have done that a lot this season.

With the Angels’ go-ahead run heading home, Brosseau gobbled up a slow roller to third base and Voit stretched just enough at first for the inning-ending out in the top of the eighth, and Milwaukee rode that momentum to a go-ahead rally and a 2-1 win at American Family Field.

Rowdy Tellez’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth made a winner of reliever Peter Strzelecki after his escape act in the top of the inning, and Devin Williams converted his fourth save in as many chances. It was another example of the Brewers winning with pitching and defense -- emphasis on defense.

“I think we’re the best defensive team in baseball,” Tellez said on the Bally Sports Wisconsin broadcast.

The defense might be the chief reason the Brewers are 17-9 this season. Milwaukee’s 25 defensive runs saved going into Friday night were tops in Major League Baseball by a significant margin over the runner-up Blue Jays (19), and the Brewers ranked among the top five teams in DRS at catcher, second base, shortstop, center field and right field.

It’s a good time to be a team that can “throw some glove,” as rookie center fielder Joey Wiemer refers to making the plays. With limits on infield shift[s], there’s a premium on players who can cover a lot of ground. And the Brewers’ defenders are covering ground behind a pitching staff with a 20.8 percent strikeout rate -- fifth lowest in MLB so far this season.

“You know, we've got good defenders on the field and we're getting opportunities to make plays,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “That's kind of what's happening. These guys are showcasing their skills defensively.”

Even on a night when they were charged with two errors, the Brewers’ defense shined. On four occasions, a highlight play ended an inning:

1. Wiemer made a tricky running catch at the warning track to deny Angels catcher Chad Wallach with two runners aboard in a 1-1 game in the fourth, helping Brewers starter Wade Miley deliver six quality innings while lowering his ERA to 1.86.

“A brick wall running into a padded wall,” Counsell quipped of Wiemer’s grab.

2. Willy Adames homered in the first inning off Angels starter Tyler Anderson, the only blemish on the veteran left-hander’s line in 6 2/3 innings. Adames then ended the seventh by making a sliding stop of Zach Neto’s ground ball to the hole at shortstop and throwing a strike to first.

3. The play of the night came in the eighth, when Brosseau’s throwing error leading off the inning put Strzelecki in a pickle. Shohei Ohtani’s single gave the Angels runners at the corners with one out, but Strzelecki retired Anthony Rendon on a flyout to center field and induced a bouncer to third from Hunter Renfroe.

Brosseau charged and had to get rid of the baseball quickly. His wide throw forced Voit to fall to the ground while making the catch, all while keeping his foot on first base.

“Obviously, Luke picked me up on that one, too,” Brosseau said. “Credit to him. It’s super frustrating to start that inning off with an error because Pete has been pitching so well for us. He battled through it again.”

Said Voit: “It’s more of a falling play, if that makes sense. I have to time the fall and keep my foot on the bag. Like the picks and stuff, it’s something I practice. Those are the tough ones. It’s a big pick; obviously I haven’t been hitting lefties very well, so it’s good to pick up the boys tonight and make a couple good plays.”

4. Voit did it again to end the game, scooping Adames’ one-hop throw after the shortstop ranged to his right for a backhanded stop, planted his feet and threw to first for the final out.

“You have all the confidence in the world every time a ball is hit,” Strzelecki said. “You just have to keep pitching and trust your defense.”

That’s easy to do these days.

“Heck yeah, you just go after guys,” Miley said. “You know your defense has got your back. They make plays. So it’s, ‘Let’s go beat them. Let’s attack.’ For a guy like me who’s pitching to contact 95 percent of the time, it’s very good to know that I trust those guys back there.”