Rowdy Tellez hits two homers and Brewers defeat Blue Jays 10-3

Rich Rovito, The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE — Rowdy Tellez hit two two-run homers against his former team, guiding the Milwaukee Brewers to an easy 10-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

The Brewers have won two of three games in this series, the first between the two teams since 2017.

Tellez, who was traded to the Brewers in July 2021, slammed a long pitch in the first inning. Then, in second, he hit his 13th home run of the campaign.

« Any time you can put up points after they’ve done it, that’s game-changing, » Tellez admitted.

The Brewers scored five runs in the second inning. Tyrone Taylor got the ball rolling with a double, Jace Peterson had a perfect field goal run and Jonathan Davis drove in with an infield single.

After Christian Yelich produced a run on a ground ball, Tellez hit another homer at the expense of José Berríos (5-4). That slap gave the Brewers an 8-3 lead.

« Berríos obviously wasn’t on his plate today, » Tellez said. He threw several times quite high and had difficulty dictating the pace. And we made him pay.”

Tellez has two home run games this season and seven in his career.

« It’s a game where the offense was really in good shape and gave us a good lead, » Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. Rowdy had a great day, but several other hitters did well. They carried us to victory. They made the job of pitchers a lot easier.”

Jandel Gustave (1-0) gave Chi Chi González no relief points and took the win. González and four Brewers relievers muzzled the Blue Jays after the first inning.

Alejandro Kirk slammed a three-run long ball in the first inning for the Blue Jays. After Tellez homered late in the first, a productive double from Omar Narváez tied the game.

González, making a second start for the Brewers, allowed three runs and four hits in four innings of work.

Berríos gave up a season-high eight runs and eight hits in two and two-thirds innings to the mound. He had allowed six runs in four innings in his previous start.

« It’s always a concern, but he’s got a good track record, so I’m sure he’ll bounce back, » Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said of Berríos’ recent underperformance . « He’s one of Major League Baseball’s great pitchers. »