Christian Yelich homered, but the Brewers' streak ended in a 5-4 loss to the Pirates on June 24. See how a costly error ended the game for Milwaukee.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a classic 'so close, yet so far' kind of night at American Family Field. The Milwaukee Brewers' four-game winning streak came to a screeching halt Tuesday in a nail-biting 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, a game that came down to the final swing and a costly mistake on the basepaths.
Christian Yelich is batting .402 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs over his last 26 games, cementing himself as one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball.
The final score doesn't quite capture the drama of the ninth inning. Down a run, the Crew nearly pulled off a miracle when Jake Bauers launched a deep drive to right field that was just feet shy of a walk-off homer. The rally hopes were ultimately dashed by a key baserunning out that ended the threat and the game. Starter Freddy Peralta (7-4) battled but wasn't his sharpest, surrendering the bulk of the damage as Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales had a career night, going a perfect 5-for-5. It was a frustrating end to what had been a solid stretch of baseball for Milwaukee.
If there's one massive positive to take from the loss, it's the continued resurgence of Christian Yelich. The former MVP was at it again, blasting a game-tying, two-run homer in the fifth inning. The blast was his eighth in the last 26 games, a stretch where he's been simply unconscious at the plate. He's not just hitting for power; he's driving in runs in bunches, with a staggering 14 RBIs in his last seven contests alone. Yelich is the engine of this offense, and his hot streak is the biggest reason for optimism right now.
While the big league club battled the Pirates, the front office's focus was also on the future. With the MLB draft approaching, analysts highlighted the Brewers' well-regarded strategy of finding high-value talent. The organization has earned praise for its ability to unearth late-round gems and its knack for targeting high-upside prep players. The consensus is that the Crew will likely go underslot with their first pick to spread the bonus pool money around, focusing on hitters with elite contact skills to keep the pipeline stocked for years to come.
Losing a tight one to a division rival always stings, especially when it ends a winning streak. But with Christian Yelich playing at an All-Star level and a farm system that continues to churn out talent, the foundation remains strong. The Brewers will look to shake this one off and even the series against the Pirates tomorrow. One loss doesn't define a season, especially when your best player is firing on all cylinders.
