Yelich, Braun power Brewers past Cards

[September 26, 2018]  Christian Yelich homered and drove in a career-high six runs as the Milwaukee Brewers moved closer to clinching a playoff spot with a 12-4 victory over the host St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Yelich laced a three-run triple in the fourth inning and slugged a three-run blast in the ninth. The National League MVP candidate leads the league with a .321 batting average and has 33 homers and 104 RBIs.

Ryan Braun hit two homers for his 31st career multi-homer game to help Milwaukee win for the fifth time in the past six games and move within a half-game of the Chicago Cubs (91-66) in the NL Central race. The Brewers (91-67) hold possession of the NL's first wild-card spot by 3 1/2 games over the Rockies (87-70).

The Cardinals (87-71) sit a half-game behind Colorado.

Jesus Aguilar went 3-for-5 with his 34th homer, and his shot in the opening inning was followed by Braun's first blast. Braun also hammered a two-run homer in the eighth inning.

Yadier Molina hit a three-run homer, and Marcell Ozuna went 3-for-3 with a walk for the Cardinals.

Brewers right-hander Taylor Williams (1-3), who gave up two hits in one inning but worked out of a jam in the fifth, was given credit for the victory.

Aguilar smacked a 2-0 slider from left-hander Austin Gomber (6-2) over the fence in right, and Braun followed by swatting a 1-1 changeup over the wall in left as the Brewers quickly took a 2-0 edge.

Milwaukee increased the lead to three in the fourth inning when pitcher Gio Gonzalez hit a two-out RBI single to center.

Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) is congratulated by first baseman Jesus Aguilar (24) as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) looks on after hitting a two run home run off of relief pitcher Mike Mayers (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Later in the inning, Yelich cleared the bases with his line-drive three-bagger into the right-center-field gap to make it 6-0.

Molina hit his three-run shot off Gonzalez in the bottom of the inning to cut the St. Louis deficit in half.

Manny Pina delivered a run-scoring single in the top of the fifth as Milwaukee increased its lead to 7-3.

The Cardinals got the run back in the bottom of the inning on Paul DeJong's sacrifice fly.

Aguilar hit a two-out single in the eighth before Braun deposited a drive into the seats in left-center field to make it 9-4. Yelich added his three-run blast in the following inning.

Gonzalez allowed three runs and three hits in four innings for the Brewers. The left-hander struck out two and walked two.

Gomber gave up five runs and seven hits over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out six and didn't walk anyone.

--Field Level Media

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