MILWAUKEE -- Christian Yelich hit a leadoff homer, Jackson Chourio went deep for the sixth time in the last seven games and rookie Cooper Pratt logged his first career hits, first RBI and first stolen base as the Brewers outslugged concerns -- for now -- about another starting pitching injury.
Right-hander Brandon Sproat went from the early stages of a perfect game to an early exit due to right hamstring cramping in Milwaukee’s 9-4 win over Cleveland on Wednesday night at American Family Field. Right-hander Chad Patrick provided 10 outs of scoreless relief and Brewers hitters provided plenty of support to push the club to 45-26 and a season-high 19 games over .500.
It was enough to temporarily assuage concern about Sproat, who was coming off six quality innings in an unfriendly pitching environment against the A’s in Las Vegas on June 10. He retired the first nine Guardians hitters he faced and was working with a 5-0 lead when he ran into major trouble.
The fourth inning began with a walk, a single and another walk before Sproat struck out Rhys Hoskins to give himself an opportunity for escape. Instead, Cleveland third baseman Daniel Schneemann hit a 2-2 curveball for a grand slam that cut the Brewers’ lead to 5-4.
Sproat retired David Fry on a popout and threw an 0-1 fastball to Steven Kwan that missed the zone and prompted a visit from head athletic trainer Brad Epstein. Sproat promptly left the game in favor of emergency reliever Patrick.
The Brewers can ill afford to lose any more pitching.
Veteran Brandon Woodruff is on the cusp of returning next week from right shoulder issues, but Milwaukee is also without starters Quinn Priester (thoracic outlet syndrome), Logan Henderson (back strain), Coleman Crow (right forearm flexor strain) and Carlos Rodriguez (right shoulder) in addition to Minor League left-hander Tate Kuehner, who is expected to miss the next six to eight weeks with left elbow soreness.
Milwaukee’s offense has been doing its part to keep the good times going, especially Chourio. The home run was his fourth of the homestand, his sixth in the last seven games and his eighth in June, tied with the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz and the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong for most in the Majors this month.