For six innings, almost nothing separated these teams. Then the seventh inning settled everything. Garrett Mitchell's 440-foot home run to right center gave Milwaukee a lead it would not surrender, and the Brewers walked away with a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night at American Family Field.
Robert Gasser set the tone. The Milwaukee right-hander worked 5.2 innings, allowing just 2 hits and no runs while striking out 5 and throwing 92 pitches. It was the kind of start that keeps a team in a game — and in a game this tight, that was enough. Aaron Ashby earned the win, improving to 10-0 with a 3.07 ERA, after working the seventh inning. Trevor Megill closed it out with a scoreless ninth, striking out 2 to record his ninth save of the season.
Brice Turang had given Milwaukee the early edge, sending a 409-foot home run to right center in the fourth inning — his 11th of the season. Cleveland answered in the top of the seventh when Stuart Fairchild scored on a single by Gabriel Arias, tying the game at one. But Mitchell responded immediately in the home half, driving his fifth home run of the year 440 feet to right center to put the Brewers back in front.
Slade Cecconi started for Cleveland and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing 3 hits and 1 run while striking out 4. Hunter Gaddis took the loss, falling to 1-2, after allowing Mitchell's home run in his one inning of work.
Milwaukee improved to 43-26, holding first place in their division. Cleveland, which entered having won two straight, fell to 39-33.