Yelich and Contreras hit back-to-back homers for Brewers in 4-2 win over Rays

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Christian Yelich and William Contreras hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning for Milwaukee on Sunday to help the Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 and avoid a three-game sweep.

Tyler Alexander (2-3) came on with one out and two on in the bottom of the fifth and pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings. Trevor Megill pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save as the Brewers snapped a three-game skid.

Jake Bauers drew a walk off Drew Rasmussen (1-4) and scored on Caleb Durbin's groundout to make it 3-2 in the fifth. Yelich led off the eighth with a hit and stole second before scoring on Rhys Hoskins's two-out single to cap the scoring.

Chandler Simpson had two doubles and Jonathan Aranda had three hits and an RBI for the Rays. José Caballero’s sacrifice fly made it 2-2 in the fourth.

After Danny Jansen led off the seventh with an infield single and was replaced by pinch-runner Christopher Morel, Chandler Simpson grounded into a 1-6-3 double play. Brandon Lowe hit the next pitch to second baseman Brice Turang to end the inning.

The Brewers snapped a string of 13 consecutive losses to open the season in games where they allowed the first run. Milwaukee was the last team in the majors this season to win a game when its opponent opened the scoring.

Right-hander Freddy Peralta (4-2, 2.18 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Brewers on Monday against Guardians righty Ben Lively (2-2, 3.46 ERA) in the first of a three-game series at Cleveland. The Rays have not announced their starter for the opener of a three-game set at Toronto on Tuesday. Right-hander José Berríos (1-1, 3.86 ERA) is expected to start for the Blue Jays.

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Tampa Bay Rays' Travis Jankowski, right, slides safely into second base for a double as Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Joey Ortiz, left, is late with the tag during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Milwaukee Brewers' Sal Frelick hits a ground ball for an out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich (22) watches his solo home run as Tampa Bay Rays catcher Danny Jansen, right, looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras (24) points toward the stands after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich, right, celebrates after his solo home run with Rhys Hoskins (12) during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard missed Monday night's 4-1 loss to Edmonton because of an illness.

The Blackhawks have been hit hard by a stomach bug going around their locker room. While Bedard was scratched against the Oilers, goaltender Spencer Knight and defenseman Louis Crevier returned to the lineup. Backup goaltender Arvid Soderblom also was available.

Teuvo Teravainen departed in the first period because of an upper-body injury. The Blackhawks are off on Tuesday, and coach Jeff Blashill said he would have an update on the forward on Wednesday.

“He could be OK. I just don’t know yet for sure. He couldn’t finish the game,” Blashill said. “We’ll go under evaluation here tomorrow and it might be something where he’s OK, might not be."

Bedard has 19 goals and a team-high 27 assists in 33 games. The 20-year-old center missed 12 games with a right shoulder injury before returning on Friday night against Washington. He had two assists in Saturday night's 3-0 victory at Nashville.

The Blackhawks also played without center Frank Nazar, who has missed 11 straight games after he was hit in the face by a puck during a 6-4 loss at Ottawa on Dec. 20.

“We’d prefer any of our great players in the lineup. But the reality is, when you don’t have them, you just come together,” captain Nick Foligno said. “It’s a game where you tighten up and do it for them, or do it for each other, or you play the right way. Today, we just allowed them to get their game right away. We didn’t make it hard on them.”

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Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)