ATLANTA – Milwaukee rookie Jackson Chourio hit a pair of two-run home runs as part of a six-home-run, 20-hit streak by the Brewers in a 16-7 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
This was just the Braves’ fourth sweep of the National League Central-leading Brewers and the second in Atlanta. The other was in 2016. The Braves, who allowed 36 hits in their last two games and were outscored 34-12 in the series, have now lost five games in a row.
“To come here, to their stadium, where we haven’t had much success lately, and play well all three days, regardless of the outcome,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of what this sweep means going forward. “We defended well, but we kind of went unnoticed. On offense, we fought and picked, drove up the pitch numbers and put balls in play.”
In addition to Chourio, who hit 3-for-5 with 4 RBIs, the Brewers got home runs from William Contreras, Garrett Mitchell, Willy Adames and Jake Bauers.
Chourio became the youngest player in Brewers history with a multiple home run game at 20 years, 150 days old. Billy Jo Robidoux set the previous record at 21 years, 266 days old in 1985. Chourio is also the youngest baseball player to hit such a game since Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2019.
“We are living an incredible moment,” Chourio said through an interpreter. “We are communicating really well and getting really good results. We have a lot of energy here in the team bench.”
Also for the Brewers, Contreras went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI, Sal Frelick went 4-for-5 with 2 RBI and Mitchell went 2-for-4 with 1 RBI and scored 3 runs.
Atlanta’s Austin Riley went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run, and Marcell Ozuna was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, including a 440-foot solo home run to left field.
This was the seventh major league game this season in which both teams combined to hit at least eight home runs.
Right-hander Frankie Montas pitched the first four innings for the Brewers. He got into trouble in the third inning when Riley hit a home run, but otherwise he was nearly unhittable. His first five outs came by strikeouts, and he finished the game with seven strikeouts while allowing just two hits.
Right-hander Elvis Peguero (7-3) relieved Montas and earned the win by pitching a hitless fifth inning with a strikeout and a walk.
It was quite a contrast for Braves right-hander Charlie Morton, who allowed six runs with just two outs in the first two innings. Morton (6-7) left the field after 2 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and eight runs – all earned. He also allowed a career-low four home runs.
“I look back and see the way the ball spins and the way it moves, it’s no better or worse than usual,” Morton said. “I just think they’re a really good team, and I think the chances weren’t great for me at all today. … You have to give them the right pitch in the right situation because they’re very patient. There wasn’t a lot of chasing.”
Infielder Luke Williams pitched the final two innings for the Braves, allowing four hits and two runs.
The Brewers took an 8-0 lead into the bottom of the third inning before Riley answered with his line-drive home run to left field. Milwaukee virtually ended any doubts with five runs in the top of the fifth inning, with Chourio and Bauers each hitting two home runs to increase the lead to 13-3.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Frankie Montas throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Parker Dunshee throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Sal Frelick (10) of the Milwaukee Brewers is congratulated by Jason Lane (40), the Milwaukee Brewers’ third baseman coach, after a two-run home run by Jake Bauers (9) in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
William Contreras (24) of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a double in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)