CHICAGO (AP) — Javier Assad pitched six sparkling innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat Freddy Peralta and the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0 on Sunday in the rubber game of their weekend set.
Assad (3-0) allowed four hits, struck out four and walked three, lowering his ERA to 1.66. The right-hander has permitted two or fewer runs in each of his seven starts this season.
“He's just got weapons that just don't let the hitter get comfortable ever,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.
Chicago posted two straight wins against Milwaukee after losing 3-1 on Friday. The starting pitchers for the Cubs combined for 18 1/3 scoreless innings in the series, allowing a total of nine hits.
“We have a great group of pitchers in the rotation. In the bullpen as well,” Assad said through a translator. “So it's really great just to go out there and see them pitch and feed off each other.”
Peralta (3-1) matched his career high with six walks in five innings. He allowed three hits and struck out five on a sunny, cool day at Wrigley Field.
It was the right-hander's first start since he was suspended five games for his role in a brawl with the Rays on Tuesday. He is appealing the punishment by Major League Baseball.
The Cubs (21-14) grabbed control with three runs in Peralta's final inning. Nico Hoerner hit a two-run double, advanced on a groundout and scored on a two-out wild pitch.
Dansby Swanson added a leadoff homer in the sixth against Thyago Vieira, and Christopher Morel singled home Mike Tauchman in the seventh. Morel went 1 for 1 with three walks.
Milwaukee (20-13) put runners on first and second in the fourth and fifth, and Assad escaped each time. Oliver Dunn bounced to first for the final out of the fourth, and Tyler Black struck out looking in the fifth.
Assad also got some help from Swanson in the first when the Gold Glove shortstop made a sliding play on Willy Adames' grounder for the final out, stranding a runner on third.
“Today was just kind of like a be aggressive, go get it kind of mentality,” said Swanson, who entered in a 3-for-25 slump at the plate. “And obviously that carries over offensively and defensively.”
The Brewers went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base.
“We ran into three guys that pitched very, very well,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said, looking back on the series. “And offensively we didn't hit with runners in scoring position. But, like I said, a great experience for our guys.”
After Assad departed, Yency Almonte pitched two innings and Daniel Palencia finished the five-hitter.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: Murphy offered a loose timetable for OF Joey Wiemer (left knee discomfort) of two to three weeks. Wiemer was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday. “Just thankful he doesn’t need surgery,” Murphy said. ... OF Christian Yelich (back) is running and swinging the bat. “It seemed to be progressing the last couple days,” Murphy said. Yelich was placed on the 10-day IL on April 16.
Cubs: OF Seiya Suzuki (right oblique strain) ran the bases and took batting practice before the game. OF Cody Bellinger (right rib fracture) also ran the bases and was scheduled for some swings. ... RHP Kyle Hendricks (low back strain) was expected to throw a bullpen.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Bryse Wilson (2-1, 3.00 ERA) faces Royals LHP Cole Ragans (2-2, 3.44) on Monday night in the opener of a three-game set at Kansas City.
Cubs: LHP Justin Steele (0-0, 1.93 ERA) is slated to return for the opener of a three-game series against San Diego on Monday night. Steele has been sidelined with a left hamstring strain. RHP Yu Darvish (1-1, 3.45) starts for the visiting Padres.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta throws against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell smiles as he watches players warm up before a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Chicago, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad throws against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto stopped his slump with flair, joining Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge to make the New York Yankees the first team this season with a trio of double-digit home run hitters.
“It tells how much damage we can do,” Soto said after his first multihomer game for New York powered the Yankees over the Chicago White Sox 6-1 on Saturday for their first six-game winning streak since September 2022.
A day after his batting average briefly dipped below .300, Soto went 4 for 4 with a walk. He is hitting .317 with 11 homers, 37 RBIs and a .975 OPS, recovering from a 3-for-25 slide during a six-game road trip.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone noticed a change with some hard-hit balls in Friday night's series opener.
“I could just see his body language,” Boone said. “Just really locked in today, all the way 'til the end there. So just one of those days that Juan's capable of.”
Soto tied the score in the first inning with a 417-foot drive deep into the right-field bleachers off Brad Keller, had an RBI single in the second and hit another solo shot in the fifth with a 437-footer deeper into the right-field bleachers. It was the 18th multihomer game for Soto.
“There’s a consistency of what he does and a confidence to what he’s doing,” Boone said. “He has a real good understanding of himself and hitting and knows the things that he wants to work on.”
Stanton and Jose Trevino also homered for the Yankees, who emerged from the game leading the major leagues with 66 long balls. Aaron Judge has 12 homers, recovering from a slow start, and Stanton has 11.
Their offense has propelled New York to 12 wins in 14 games. The Yankees boosted their record to an AL-best 32-15 despite ace Gerrit Cole missing at least the first two months of the season with an elbow injury.
New York's pitchers lead the major leagues with a 2.83 ERA. Rookie Luis Gil struck out a career-high 14 over six innings against the White Sox, winning his fourth straight start and fifth consecutive decision.
“With those three guys hitting the ball well, swinging the bat well, and having those starters doing what they’ve been doing, I think it’s just more than enough to win games,” Soto said, referring to himself, Judge and Stanton.
A three-time All-Star acquired by the Yankees from San Diego in December, the 25-year-old already has become a fan favorite. New York owner Hal Steinbrenner said this week he was open to in-season negotiations on a long-term contract for Soto, who can become a free agent after the World Series.
“It’s been great this past month-and-a-half,” Soto said. “The fan base, teammates, everything has been going in a good way.”
Soto was on the field Friday for batting practice after conferring with coaches and watching video.
“Definitely working on my swing, try to find that feeling again where I was hitting the ball in the first month and getting that feeling back and just get that confidence back,” he said. “You got to try everything that you have to to help yourself. It’s not going to happen overnight.”
Soto had just a single putout in right field on an afternoon Gil and relievers struck out 16 batters. He's not an advocate of Crash Davis, the “Field of Dreams” catcher who told pitcher Nuke LaLoosh: "Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they’re fascist. Throw some ground balls — it’s more democratic."
"Hell no. You want to strike out all the guys, I’m more than happy to see that," Soto said.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Yankees' Juan Soto, left, celebrates with Aaron Judge after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto flips his bat after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. The Yankees won 6-1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. The Yankees won 6-1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. The Yankees won 6-1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto, right, celebrates with third base coach Luis Rojas as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, New York Yankees' Juan Soto runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto hits a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. The Yankees won 6-1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto hits a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
