MLB roundup: Brewers sprint past Cubs

Milwaukee • Christian Yelich beat out a throw at first to narrowly avoid a double play that allowed the winning run to score in the ninth.

Game over, but the jubilant Yelich kept going — and turned across the outfield — before the rest of the happy Milwaukee Brewers finally caught up with him in short left.

Yelich’s fielder’s choice with the bases loaded in the ninth allowed Keon Broxton to score from third, and the Brewers opened an important three-game series with the Chicago Cubs with a 4-3 win Monday.

The .315 hitter hit a 1-2 fastball from Jesse Chavez at diving third baseman Kris Bryant, who touched third for the second out of the ninth before firing to first. The speedy Yelich reached safely just before the throw landed in the glove of the outstretched Anthony Rizzo.

“It’s fun,” manager Craig Counsell said. “They might not be saying the same thing but it was a game with some great plays and a lot of individual efforts.”

The second-place Brewers, looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011, pulled within four games of the NL Central-leading Cubs.

The Brewers took advantage of wildness by Cubs reliever Steve Cishek (4-3), who loaded the bases with a walk, passed ball and two hit batters. It set up the game-winning fielder’s choice by Yelich, the reigning National League Player of the Week.

“I saw him catch it and I saw him go to third, so I just started busting it, man,” Yelich said.

Athletics 6, Yankees 3 • In Oakland, Calif., Mark Canha homered and Matt Chapman hit an RBI double to back Trevor Cahill, leading Oakland past New York in a matchup between two teams in the AL wild-card race. The A’s pulled within 31/2 games of New York for the first wild card.

Red Sox 8, Braves 2 • In Atlanta, Ian Kinsler drove in three runs and Boston continued its interleague success, beating the Braves in a matchup of division leaders. The Red Sox have won 23 of their last 27 games against National League teams.

Royals 5, Indians 1 • In Cleveland, Jakob Junis allowed two hits in seven shutout innings, Ryan O’Hearn homered twice and Kansas City won its season-high sixth straight.

Rockies 9, Giants 8 • In Denver, pinch-hitter Noel Cuevas delivered a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning and Colorado rallied after squandering a five-run lead.

White Sox 4, Tigers 2 • In Chicago, Matt Davidson hit a two-run, game-ending homer as Chicago scored three times in the bottom of the ninth for its eighth win in 11 games.

Astros 4, Twins 1 • In Houston, Alex Bregman homered for the third straight game and Yuli Gurriel also went deep to help Houston win its third straight.

Nationals 4, Cardinals 3 (10) • In Washington, Bryce Harper hit a tying, two-run homer in the ninth inning, then delivered a sacrifice fly in the 10th that lifted Washington past St. Louis.

Pirates 5, Reds 1 • In Pittsburgh, Trevor Williams continued his stretch of strong starts by pitching 62⁄3 scoreless innings, as Pittsburgh sent Cincinnati to its ninth loss in 12 games.

Marlins 3, Phillies 1 • In Miami, Philadelphia mustered only four hits and no walks against Jose Urena and two relievers in a loss to last-place Miami.

Rays 7, Blue Jays 1 • In Toronto, Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman got roughed up early in his return from the disabled list, Ji-Man Choi hit a solo homer, and Tampa Bay beat Toronto.

Angels 3, Rangers 1 • In Arlington, Texas, Matt Shoemaker pitched five scoreless innings in his first start in more than five months and Taylor Ward snapped a scoreless tie with his seventh-inning homer as Los Angeles beat Texas.

Padres 6, Diamondbacks 2 • In Phoenix, Franmil Reyes homered twice and had four RBIs, Bryan Mitchell pitched five effective innings and San Diego knocked off Arizona.

Mets 4, Dodgers 2 • In Los Angeles, pinch-hitter Brandon Nimmo slugged a go-ahead, three-run homer in the ninth inning, rallying New York past the Dodgers in Jacob deGrom’s latest stellar no-decision.

Mariners 2, Orioles 1 • In Seattle, Erasmo Ramirez allowed one run in 51⁄3 innings, and the Mariners’ bullpen shut down the Orioles. Ryon Healy had an RBI single and Dee Gordon added a sacrifice fly.