The Milwaukee Brewers are making a loud statement in the early stages of the 2026 season, and their latest victim was the American League’s top team. In a dramatic Sunday afternoon showdown, Brice Turang launched a 411-foot walk-off home run with two outs in the ninth inning to secure a 4-3 victory and ensure the Milwaukee Brewers sweep the New York Yankees in a three-game series.
Turang’s Clutch Walk-Off Heroics
With the game deadlocked at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees turned to David Bednar to force extra innings. Bednar initially looked dominant, quickly dispatching Joey Ortiz and Jackson Chourio with back-to-back strikeouts. However, Turang had other plans. On the very first pitch he saw, the Brewers' second baseman connected on a towering drive that cleared the center-field wall, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
The blast was Turang’s sixth home run of the season and marked the first walk-off homer of his major league career. The victory was awarded to Abner Uribe (2-1), who provided a perfect ninth inning in relief to set the stage for the dramatic finish. For Bednar (1-3), it was a bitter end to a weekend where the Yankees' bullpen struggled to contain Milwaukee’s late-inning surges.
Rodón Returns as Brewers Capitalize on Wildness
The afternoon featured the highly anticipated season debut of Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón, who was making his first start following October surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow. Rodón’s outing was a tale of two halves; he held Milwaukee hitless through the first 3.2 innings but eventually unraveled in the fourth due to command issues.
After walking William Contreras and Gary Sánchez and hitting Andrew Vaughn with a pitch, Rodón found himself in a bases-loaded jam. Milwaukee capitalized on the opportunity without needing a hit initially, as Garrett Mitchell drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Blake Perkins then delivered the knockout blow of the inning, lining a two-run single to center to give Milwaukee a 3-2 lead. Rodón finished his debut with 4.1 innings pitched, allowing three runs on just two hits but yielding five costly walks.
Judge and Jones Provide Bright Spots for New York
Despite the loss, the Yankees' offense showed flashes of brilliance early on. Aaron Judge continued his MVP-caliber campaign by crushing a solo home run off Brewers starter Logan Henderson in the first inning. The 373-foot shot was Judge’s 16th of the year, moving him into a tie with Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber for the major league lead. It also marked Judge’s seventh first-inning home run of the season.
The Yankees also celebrated a milestone for top prospect Spencer Jones. Playing in just his third career game, Jones recorded his first major league hit—a second-inning RBI single that briefly gave New York a 2-0 lead. The Yankees eventually tied the game 3-3 in the sixth inning when Jazz Chisholm Jr. doubled into the right-field corner, scoring Cody Bellinger, but the New York offense went quiet for the remainder of the contest.
Historical Significance of the Brewers Sweep
This victory was more than just another win for Milwaukee; it was a historic achievement. This marks the first time the Brewers have swept the Yankees in a series of at least three games since August 1989. The win also reinforces Milwaukee’s status as the premier interleague powerhouse in baseball. Since 2022, the Brewers have posted a major league-best 116-65 record in interleague play.
The Milwaukee Brewers sweep of the New York Yankees sends a clear message to the rest of the league. While the Yankees (26-15) still hold one of the best records in the American League, they have now lost four of their last five games, all featuring late-inning collapses. Meanwhile, the Brewers continue to climb the NL Central standings, proving they can compete with—and beat—the heavyweights of the junior circuit.
Key Series Stats
- Brice Turang: 411-foot walk-off HR (1st of career).
- Aaron Judge: 16th HR (Tied for MLB lead).
- Spencer Jones: 1st career MLB hit and RBI.
- Historical Fact: First Brewers sweep of Yankees since 1989.
Sources & Original Reporting
