Christian Yelich's monster game propels Brewers to improbable 13th straight win

The Milwaukee Brewers continue to win in the most improbable ways. Whether it's collecting 56 hits in an emphatic sweep against the Washington Nationals or Blake Perkins cutting down a runner at home plate to end the game or Isaac Collins taking Edwin Díaz deep for his first career walk-off home run, the Brewers simply can't stop winning. It's must-watch TV from Milwaukee day in and day out.

Friday night was no different for the Brew Crew. Despite being down 8-1 in the early goings of the game, the Crew roared back for nine unanswered runs and beat the surging Cincinnati Reds to give them 13 straight wins, tying a franchise record for the most consecutive wins, which has stood for nearly 40 years.

It started with a tough outing from Jacob Misiorowski, who was making his first start in nearly two weeks after a brief stint on the IL with a left tibia contusion. What was planned to be a short start pitches-wise became a very short start innings-wise as The Miz dealt with traffic on the bases from the onset. In the first inning, it was three singles from Spencer Steer, Miguel Andujar, and Wisconsin native Gavin Lux that resulted in the Reds snatching the first lead of the game. However, that lead, at least for the time being, remained at just one after newcomer Steward Berroa, who was manning center field for the Crew in his Brewers debut, made a Perkins-esque play, cutting down Andujar at home plate to end the inning.

The Brewers, as they have throughout their winning streak, answered back quickly. Christian Yelich, sporting a Bob Uecker-themed bat for MLB's Player's Weekend, smashed an opposite-field homer in the top of the second to tie the game at one run apiece.

However, the tie was short-lived as in the following half inning, the bottom of the second, the Reds' offense exploded for seven runs. Misiorowski had some control issues and walked a run home before being pulled with just one out in the inning. Relieved by DL Hall, all three of the batters that Miz left on base ended up scoring, giving the Brewers' rookie an uninspiring four-out, five-earned-run outing in his return to action. Hall surrendered three earned runs of his own, and when the second inning finally came to a close, the Brewers were staring up at a seven-run deficit on the scoreboard.

More accurately, they were in high spirits in the visitor's dugout, ignoring the scoreboard, knowing the game was far from over and that the fun was just beginning.

Brewers complete incredible comeback behind Christian Yelich's multi-homer game

Beginning the top of the third inning down seven runs is not usually a recipe for success. But the Brewers are well past old recipes; they're improvising, finding new ways to win games every night.

The third inning began with a single up the middle from newcomer Brandon Lockridge, whom the Brewers acquired from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Nestor Cortes at the trade deadline. Lockridge not only started the rally in the third, but he collected three hits in the game, giving him a batting average above .300 in his first nine games with the Crew. Sal Frelick followed with a single of his own, and then Joey Ortiz and William Contreras each recorded outs, giving the Brewers runners on the corners with two outs and Yelich coming to the plate.

On a 62.5 mph bloop to left field, Yelich doubled, scoring Lockridge and advancing Contreras to third. The following batter, red-hot Andrew Vaughn, crushed a middle-middle cutter to left center for his ninth homer in 29 games with the Brewers. Vaughn's homer, a three-run shot, made it an 8-5 Cincinnati lead. But the inning wasn't over, nor were the Brewers. Caleb Durbin singled on a sharp line drive to left and advanced to second on a fielding error by Reds left fielder Austin Hayes. The next batter, Brice Turang, doubled him in to make it an 8-6 game.

With Hall settled in on the mound, it wasn't long before Yelich and the Brewers were up to bat once again. This time, now in the fourth inning, Yelich stepped to the plate with Frelick standing on third base and Joey Ortiz on second. In true Yelich fashion, he guided a ground ball inside of the third base line and singled home both runners to tie the game at eight runs apiece. Just two innings removed from being down seven, the Brew Crew tied it up.

Still, there was work to do. Yelich, who is always on cycle watch when facing the Reds, came to the plate in the sixth just a triple shy of the rare feat. However, instead of a three-bagger, Yelich sent another one over the left field fence, giving him five RBI on the night and the Brewers a one-run lead.

Then, as the Brewers do, they piled on another run, in the most Brewers way possible. Lockridge roped a double into the right center gap, but the second that Reds center fielder TJ Friedl bobbled the ball, the speedy Brewers outfielder was already on his way to third. Then, while facing the next batter, Reds reliever Sam Moll threw one to the backstop, allowing Lockridge to score from the third.

A two-run lead was all the Brewers "A bullpen" needed, as Nick Mears, Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, Jared Koenig, and Trevor Megill covered the final five innings without allowing a single base runner. Ashby, Uribe, Koenig, and Megill each struck out two batters in their inning of work, and Megill notched his 29th save of the season.

The Brewers look to keep the magic alive at 5:40 p.m. CT time tonight. Quinn Priester is on the bump for the Crew, facing off against one of Cincinnati's deadline additions in Zack Littell. The Brew Crew tries to make it 14 in a row and break the 1987 Brewers' record for most consecutive wins.