Yelich leaves game with back discomfort, Brewers lose 5-2

NEW YORK — Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich and Mets star Robinson Canó were both pulled with injuries while New York beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 Sunday on J.D. Davis‘ tiebreaking, pinch-hit single in the seventh inning.

Yelich left in the fifth with low back discomfort, and it was unclear when he was injured. He singled and was retired on Jesús Aguilar’s ground ball double play in the fourth. Yelich dealt with back issues last season.

Canó exited in the first after being hit by a pitch on his left hand while failing to check his swing. X-rays taken during the game were negative, and New York will send him for further testing Monday.

Davis put New York ahead 3-2 with a line drive against reliever Alex Claudio. Amed Rosario scored from second after reaching when Yelich’s replacement, Ben Gamel, dropped his flyball in right field with Jacob Barnes (1-1) pitching.

Tomás Nido, recalled from Triple-A on Sunday when catcher Travis d’Arnaud was cut, added a pinch-hit, two-run double in the eighth.

Seth Lugo struck out the side in the eighth, and Edwin Díaz pitched the ninth for his eighth save in eight chances. New York ended a three-game skid.

Yelich is batting .353 with a major league-leading 14 homers, tied with Albert Pujols (2006) and Alex Rodríguez (2007) for most in the first full month of a season. He’s on pace for 78 homers and 190 RBIs.

Canó was ruled to have swung at the pitch that ended his day by plate umpire Todd Tichenor. It’s the second time this season Canó has been struck by a pitch but called for a swinging strike.

The left-handed hitter turned toward first base while Gonzalez’s fastball barreled at his chest. It connected with the outside of Canó’s left hand, and Canó staggered out of the box and slammed his helmet before leaving.

Milwaukee slugger Mike Moustakas hit a tying two-run homer off Steven Matz (3-1) in the seventh. Matz had been excellent until then, pitching most of the game with a 2-0 lead. He finished with seven innings of two-run ball, striking out four without a walk.

Brewers left-hander Gio Gonzalez was hit hard early in his season debut but steadied himself to throw five innings of two-run ball. He signed a $2 million, one-year deal Saturday after opting out of his minor league contract with the Yankees.

CHEERS!

Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun got a sudsy surprise chasing Pete Alonso‘s flyball in the first inning. Braun leapt at the wall and had a beer dumped on him by a Mets fan, who appeared to be trying to catch the near-homer in his cup.

Replay review upheld that there was no fan interference and that Alonso’s drive didn’t clear the wall. Alonso got his first career triple and scored on Todd Frazier‘s single for a 1-0 lead.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson (right shoulder) was scratched from a rehab start with Triple-A San Antonio when his wife went into labor prematurely with twin daughters. Nelson tweeted that the girls, Riley James and Naomi Lynn, were born at 3 lbs, 10 ounces each. Nelson flew to Houston to be with his family, and his rehab has been put on hold.

Mets: INF Jed Lowrie (left knee) began a rehab assignment with Class A Port St. Lucie. His timetable for a return to New York remains uncertain.

UP NEXT

Brewers: Milwaukee opens a 10-game homestand with the first of four against Colorado on Monday. RHP Zach Davies (2-0, 1.65) is scheduled to pitch.

Mets: New York begins a four-game home series against Cincinnati. Mets RHP Zack Wheeler (2-2, 4.85) is coming off seven shutout innings against Philadelphia with 11 strikeouts. He’ll face RHP Tanner Roark (1-1, 3.24).