Yelich hits inside-the-park homer as Brewers bash White Sox, 8-3

Box Score

After leaving his first start with the Milwaukee Brewers with back spasms, Josh Lindblom was back on the mound on Thursday and did not appear to be suffering any ill effects from that malady. He struck out the side to get things going in the bottom of the first inning on his way to a very sharp outing. Lindblom gave up a two-run homer to Leury Garcia in the second inning, but those would be the only two runs that he allowed across 5.0 frames with four hits and one walk allowed, along with seven strikeouts.

Old friend Gio Gonzalez started for Chicago and the Milwaukee offense put pressure on him from the get-go. He allowed a single and a walk in the first inning, two singles in the second inning, and a walk, two singles, and a run in the third inning. After a 1-2-3 fourth, the dam finally broke in the fifth inning. With one out, Christian Yelich lofted a ball down the left field line that would perhaps more typically be a double — although this fly ball appeared catchable. But Eloy Jimenez not only couldn’t make the play, he then ran into and got caught up in the netting the protects the fans. That allowed Yelich to motor around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

Avisail Garcia drew a walk after that, then Jedd Gyorko uncorked a two-run blast that actually went over the fence. Justin Smoak reached on an error, and moved up to second on a single by Omar Narvaez. Gio was replaced by Matt Foster, and after a Mark Mathias strikeout, Orlando Arcia singled to bring in another run. At the end of the fifth, the score was 5-2.

The Brewers added three more runs in the eighth against Steve Cishek on a sac fly by Smoak and a two-run single by Mathias. Freddy Peralta worked three scoreless innings in relief of Lindblom and allowed a hit, a walk, and struck out six. Eric Yardley tossed the ninth, allowing an unearned run before finishing the White Sox off for the night. When the dust settled, it was an 8-3 victory for the Cream City Nine.

The Brewers come back to Miller Park to begin a three-game weekend set with the Cincinnati Reds beginning on Friday night. Eric Lauer will start for Milwaukee, toeing the slab against Trevor Bauer. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM central time.