Field Level Media
Jun 26, 2018
Freddy Peralta pitched seven dazzling innings and combined with three relievers on a three-hitter as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the visiting Kansas City Royals 5-1 Tuesday night at Miller Park.
In his fourth career start, Peralta (3-0) only allowed a third-inning double down the right field line to Adalberto Mondesi and struck out 10. The only other baserunner he allowed was a two-out walk to Alex Gordon in the second.
Peralta turned in his second career double-digit strikeout game and third scoreless outing. He threw 102 pitches, mixed in his curveball more frequently than his first three outings and retired the last 15 hitters.
Seven of Peralta's strikeouts were swinging, and his most impressive sequence occurred in the fifth when he fanned Gordon, Alcides Escobar and Mondesi on 12 pitches.
Mondesi also homered off left-hander Dan Jennings with two outs in the eighth. After Jennings lost the shutout, he walked pinch hitter Hunter Dozier but retired Whit Merrifield on a sharp fly ball to center.
Jacob Barnes allowed a leadoff double to Rosell Herrera and walked Lucas Duda before being replaced by Josh Hader. Hader needed only two pitches to end it and recorded his seventh save in nine opportunities by retiring Gordon.
Christian Yelich, Jesus Aguilar and Ryan Braun homered off Jakob Junis (5-9) as Milwaukee improved to a major league-leading 39-11 when homering.
Yelich also made a terrific over-the-shoulder catch on Gordon's fly ball to the warning track in the eighth two batters before Mondesi homered.
Junis allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings and dropped his sixth straight start. He also allowed three homers for the fifth time this season and leads the majors with 22 homers allowed.
The Royals lost for the 19th time in 23 games and were held to three hits or fewer for the fourth time. Kansas City also was held to one run or less for the 18th time.
The Brewers quickly went ahead three batters into the game when Yelich lifted a 3-0 sinker over the left field fence for his 11th homer.
Milwaukee took a three-run lead when Aguilar hammered an 0-1 slider over the center field fence with two outs in the third. After Aguilar's 17th homer, Braun deposited a first-pitch slider over the center field fence with Eric Thames on base in the fifth.
--Field Level Media