MILWAUKEE — Brice Turang hit Milwaukee’s fifth grand slam in its last eight games as part of a seven-run fourth inning, and the Brewers rolled to a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Freddy Peralta (6-4) and Jakob Junis combined on a two-hitter to help the NL Central-leading Brewers win their ninth consecutive home series. Milwaukee hasn’t dropped a series at American Family Field since the New York Yankees took two of three from April 26-28.
The Brewers became the second team in major league history to hit five grand slams in an eight-game span, joining San Diego in 2020.
“We just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Peralta said. “Probably some people around don’t see us — at the end of the season, they don’t see us being in a good spot — or probably in spring training they didn’t expect us to be where we are right now. But we’re the Brewers, and we’ve been doing this for like the last six years.”
Milwaukee’s highest-scoring inning of the season backed up a sparkling performance from Peralta, who worked seven innings and retired his last 14 batters.
After Nico Hoerner sent Peralta’s second pitch of the game over the left field wall, the right-hander bore down and struck out eight while allowing only two hits and two walks. Junis walked one over the final two innings.
Christian Yelich hit a 422-foot, two-run home run in the fourth off Kyle Hendricks to put Milwaukee ahead. With one out, Cubs right fielder Ian Happ misjudged a fly ball from Rhys Hoskins, who was credited with a single.
“I kind of had a good bead on it, and it turned and moved a long way, kind of towards left-center there on its way down,” Happ said. “I probably wasn’t in a great spot. I kind of thought it was going to be more up against the wall over there, and I got turned around. Obviously not my best moment out there and it puts Kyle in a tough spot.”
Sal Frelick followed with an RBI base hit, and with two outs, Turang sent his drive over the right-field wall to end Hendricks’ day.
It was Turang’s second grand slam in his last five games and his sixth home run of the season, matching his total as a rookie last year.
“I worked extremely hard to get back to my swing,” said Turang, who is batting .292 this season after hitting .218 as a rookie last year. “I lifted in the gym. That’s where you’re going to get the strength. I’m not trying to crush, or hit homers. I’m trying to hit the ball hard back up the middle and just square it up. Good things happen when you’re focused like that on trying to hit the ball back up the middle.”
Turang started Milwaukee’s flurry of grand slams on June 22 in the ninth inning of a 6-4 loss at San Diego. Three of his 12 career home runs have come with the bases loaded.
Hendricks (1-6) gave up 7 runs and 7 hits in 3 2/3 innings while striking out 3 and walking 1.
Milwaukee Brewers’ Brice Turang hits a grand slam during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich is congratulated after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) Milwaukee Brewers’ Jake Bauers hits a single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) Chicago Cubs’ Nico Hoerner is congratulated after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
