Christian Yelich doubled home a key run in the seventh inning and reached the 100-RBI milestone for the first time in six years, helping the Milwaukee Brewers complete a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 5-2 victory Thursday night at American Family Field. The result moved Milwaukee closer to clinching the National League Central while extending Los Angeles’ losing streak to seven.
Oddsmakers listed the Brewers as -190 favorites on the moneyline, with the Angels entering at +160. The total was set at 8.5 runs, and the two teams combined for seven, finishing under the line.
Yelich finished 2-for-4 with two runs batted in, giving him 100 for the season. It marked his first 100-RBI campaign since 2018, when he won the NL Most Valuable Player award with 110. His most significant contribution came in the seventh when he doubled to right-center, scoring Brice Turang as part of a three-run rally that broke a 2-2 tie. William Contreras later crossed the plate on Andrew Vaughn’s sacrifice fly to cap the inning.
Quinn Priester delivered another strong performance for Milwaukee, striking out 10 while allowing just three hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings. He retired the first 12 batters he faced and did not allow a baserunner until the fifth, when Jo Adell drew a walk and Luis Rengifo followed with a two-run homer. Priester has won 12 consecutive decisions, a franchise record, and the Brewers have been victorious in his last 19 appearances.
Although Priester departed with Milwaukee trailing 2-1, the Brewers’ offense rallied late. Caleb Durbin singled off reliever José Fermín to score Yelich and tie the game in the sixth inning. That set the stage for the decisive seventh against Luis García, who fell to 2-2 after allowing the go-ahead runs.
Milwaukee’s bullpen preserved the lead. Aaron Ashby earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings and three strikeouts, improving to 4-2. Abner Uribe escaped an eighth-inning jam with Rengifo and Yoán Moncada strikeouts after Los Angeles had runners on the corners with one out. Jared Koenig pitched the ninth to secure his second save in four opportunities.
The Angels missed a chance to take the lead in the seventh when Chris Taylor drove a ball deep to center with two runners on. Blake Perkins made a diving catch near the warning track to keep the game tied, a play that proved pivotal once Milwaukee surged ahead in the bottom half of the inning.
Los Angeles starter Yusei Kikuchi allowed two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings while striking out six. Despite his solid outing, the Angels’ lack of offense prevented them from capitalizing.
The Brewers reduced their magic number to four for clinching the NL Central and will continue their push Friday in St. Louis, where Jacob Misiorowski (5-2, 4.35 ERA) is set to face Sonny Gray (13-8, 4.43). The Angels will travel to Colorado, sending Mitch Farris (1-1, 4.80) against Bradley Blalock (1-5, 9.00) in the series opener.