Christian Yelich homers three times, drives in seven runs vs. Cardinals - MLB

Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich powered the Brewers to a 10-7 win over the Cardinals on Monday night. The outfielder hit a pair of three-run homers and a solo shot, driving in seven runs.

Yelich’s first homer came in the second inning off of Dakota Hudson, capping off a three-run frame for the Brewers to take a 6-2 lead. Yelich broke a 6-6 tie in the sixth with another three-run shot, this time off of Mike Mayers. Yelich tacked on a solo homer in the eighth off of John Brebbia.

Yelich is the first Brewer to hit three homers in a game since Aaron Hill on May 7, 2016 against the Reds. There have now been 21 three-homer games by Brewers hitters. Yelich’s seven RBI matches a club record, achieved 11 other times, most recently by Jesús Aguilar on July 7, 2017 against the Yankees.

There have already been three three-homer games this season. The others came from the Yankees’ Gary Sánchez on April 7 against the Orioles and the Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt on March 29 against the Brewers. 2018 saw 14 three-homer games.

Yelich now has eight homers on the season, seven of which have come off of Cardinal pitching. Along with the eight dingers, Yelich is hitting .354/.449/.785 with 22 RBI, 17 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 78 plate appearances.

Yelich’s most generous act actually occurred before Monday’s game, however. He delivered a puppy to two little girls who brought a sign to a Brewers game that read, “Yelich, hit a home run and my dad buys me a puppy!” Yelich, of course, homered in that game. The man does it all.

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SAN DIEGO — The scuffling San Diego Padres claimed catcher Gary Sánchez off waivers from the New York Mets.

The two-time All-Star was designated for assignment after playing in three games for the Mets. He went 1 for 6 with three strikeouts and an RBI, looking shaky at times behind the plate.

With the disappointing Padres (24-29) getting meager offensive production at catcher, they hope Sánchez can provide a boost. Austin Nola is batting .131 with three extra-base hits and a paltry .434 OPS in 39 games. His part-time platoon partner, second-stringer Brett Sullivan, is hitting .170 with four extra-base hits and a .482 OPS in 21 games since getting called up from the minors April 16.

Luis Campusano has been on the injured list since April 17 and is expected to be sidelined until around the All-Star break following left thumb surgery.

San Diego is responsible for just over $1 million in salary for Sánchez after assuming his $1.5 million, one-year contract.

The star-studded Padres have lost seven of 11 and are 3-3 on a nine-game East Coast trip. They open a three-game series at Miami.

San Diego becomes the third National League team to take a close look at the 30-year-old Sánchez this season. He spent time in the minors with San Francisco before getting released May 2 and signing a minor league contract a week later with the Mets, who were minus a couple of injured catchers at the time.

After hitting well in a short stint at Triple-A Syracuse, he was promoted to the big leagues May 19. When the Mets reinstated catcher Tomás Nido from the injured list last week, Sánchez was cut.

Sánchez’s best seasons came early in his career with the New York Yankees, where he was runner-up in 2016 AL Rookie of the Year voting and made the AL All-Star team in 2017 and 2019.

He was traded to Minnesota before the 2022 season and batted .205 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 128 games last year.

With the Padres, Sánchez could also be a candidate for at-bats at designated hitter, where 42-year-old Nelson Cruz is batting .245 with three homers, 16 RBIs and a .670 OPS, and 37-year-old Matt Carpenter is hitting .174 with four homers, 21 RBIs and a .652 OPS.