Yelich: 'I guess the regression didn’t happen'

MILWAUKEE -- It's July 27, and the reigning National League MVP Award winner already has as many home runs as he hit all of last year.

“I guess the regression didn’t happen,” Christian Yelich said, fighting a smile.

The Brewers' slugger keyed a 10th-inning comeback in Milwaukee's 5-3 walk-off win over the Cubs on Saturday at Miller Park when he connected against Chicago closer Craig Kimbrel for a game-tying solo homer. Two batters later, rookie Keston Hiura won the game with a two-run shot.

It was Yelich’s Major League-leading 36th home run in his 361st at-bat. Last year, he hit 36 homers in 574 at-bats on the way to the MVP honor. He’s on a 55-homer pace at the moment.

“I was just trying to put a good swing on something, honestly,” said Yelich, who is doing more than hitting home runs. He tallied three more hits on Saturday to extend his hitting streak to 15 games, and he has reached safely in 21 straight games, with a hit in 19 of them.

“It might have even been a ball, the pitch I hit,” Yelich said. “It was borderline. It just happened to work out in our favor tonight.”

Added Brewers manager Craig Counsell: “The last couple innings set up really well with who we had up. 'Yeli’ is obviously the guy you want leading off the inning.”

The Brewers and Cubs are both one game behind the National League Central-leading Cardinals, but it hasn’t been easy for any of those teams. Yelich is certainly doing his part to spur action by Milwaukee’s front office, which is looking to improve the team’s pitching by Wednesday’s Trade Deadline but is wary of the high prices.

“We’ll see,” Yelich said. “We’re confident with the guys we have, but obviously have been able to see what additions can do. Last year is an example. But that’s out of our control here in the clubhouse. We really don’t have any say whether that happens or not. So we’re riding with the guys we’ve got until we’re told otherwise.”