TAYLOR HRS IN BOTH ENDS OF SWEEP
Tyrone Taylor homered in both games, Aaron Ashby struck out a career-high 12 in the nightcap and the Milwaukee Brewers swept a doubleheader from the Chicago Cubs 7-6 and 3-1 Monday at Wrigley Field.
Luis Urias lined a threerun homer into the basket in left-center to break a seventh-inning tie in the opener. The Brewers trailed 4-2 before Taylor’s two-run homer in the sixth off Matt Swarmer, and Milwaukee led 2-1 in the second game when Taylor homered off lefthander Brandon Hughes in the eighth.
Victor Caratini hit a tiebreaking home run in the fifth inning against his former team, and the Brewers won their third in a row while getting just three hits in the nightcap. The Cubs extended their losing streak to three.
Ashby (1-3) allowed one run and five hits six-plus innings, giving up Willson Contreras’ home run over the left-field bleachers and onto Waveland Avenue in the fourth. He left with the bases loaded in the seventh, and Brad Boxberger struck out pinch-hitter Nico Hoerner and got Andrelton Simmons to ground into a 5-2-3 double play.
Boxberger pitched two scoreless innings, and Josh Hader remained perfect in 18 save chances by getting his second of the day.
Chicago’s Drew Smyly pitched three hitless innings and left because of right oblique soreness at the start of the fourth. Anderson Espinoza (0-1), a 24-year-old right-hander making his major league debut, allowed two runs and two hits in four innings.
Rowdy Tellez hit an RBI double in the fourth.
The first game was tied at 4 when Mike Brosseau singled off Daniel Norris (0-3) with two outs and Kolten Wong walked. Urias hit a 3-2 slider for a drive that barely made it over the ivy, his fifth homer this season.
Jace Peterson hit a long solo drive for Milwaukee.
Swarmer and Milwaukee’s Ethan Small made their big-league debuts in the opener. It marked the first time in Brewers history that both starters made their debuts and the first for the Cubs since 1944.
Swarmer allowed four runs — one earned — five hits and one walk in six innings.
Notable
Carlos Correa tested positive for COVID-19, the Twins said after a loss to the Tigers. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said the 27year-old shortstop had not been feeling well but doesn’t have significant symptoms.
• Giants 1B Brandon Belt remains in San Francisco while recovering from right knee inflammation. Belt has been hitting in the batting cage at Oracle Park, but there is not a firm timeline on his return.
• Phillies OF Mickey Moniak (La Costa Canyon
High) was activated, started in center and was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts for the Phillies. The top overall pick in the 2016 amateur draft broke his right hand during the final spring training game on April 6.
• The Cubs placed rookie outfielder Seiya Suzuki on the 10-day injured list with a left ring finger sprain prior. The roster move was retroactive to Friday.
• Rockies OF Kris Bryant (USD), in the midst of a second stay on the injured list due to a lower back strain, resumed most baseball activities without restriction, though he has yet to fully swing the bat.
• Kody Clemens, the 26year-old son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, was brought up by the Tigers for a possible major league debut. Detroit recalled the infielder/outfielder from Triple-A Toledo of the International League and put outfielder Robbie Grossman on the 10-day injured list because of a strained neck.