Chourio homers, Montas pitches 6 scoreless innings as Brewers shut out Giants 3-0

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jackson Chourio hit a two-run home run, Frankie Montas pitched six scoreless innings, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0 on Thursday night to take another step toward winning the NL Central.

The Brewers, who hold a nine-game lead over Chicago in the division, took two of three from the Giants and reduced their magic number to seven.

The game was scoreless until Milwaukee's Willy Adames reached base with a walk in the seventh and rounded the bases on three Camilo Doval (5-2) wild pitches. Milwaukee added to the lead when Chourio hit a two-run shot to right off Spencer Bivens in the eighth, scoring Brice Turang after he reached on an infield single.

“Opposite field at this park is unheard of to begin with," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “It still takes a pretty good shot to get it out of here.”

The 20-year-old Chourio became the youngest player with a 20-homer, 20-stolen base season in MLB history.

“He already is a really good player, but I think he’s going to be one of the greatest for sure,” Montas said of Chourio. “He’s one of a kind.”

Chourio exchanged a signed bat with the fan who caught his historic home run ball.

The Giants had the tying run on base with one out in the ninth after Mark Canha singled and Jerar Encarnacion doubled to left off Brewers closer Devin Williams. Williams responded by striking out Grant McCray and forcing pinch hitter Patrick Bailey to ground out for his 11th save.

The Giants had a runner in scoring position six times and never plated a run.

There were only four hits in the game — two for each side — through six innings as Montas (7-10) struck out eight and San Francisco starter Hayden Birdsong struck out four in five innings.

“He’s not afraid of the big moment either, so that's what’s fun,” Murphy said of Montas. “These guys have high hopes, but we got a long way to go.”

No runner advanced past second base until Adames scored.

The Giants had a chance to take the lead in the fourth after consecutive two-out walks, but Montas got Encarnacion to line out to right. Curt Casali added a one-out double in the fifth but was stranded.

Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill pitched scoreless innings for Milwaukee before Williams entered in the ninth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Brewers: Reliever Enoli Paredes was activated from the 60-day injured list after missing over two months with forearm pain. LHP Rob Zastryzny's season is over after being placed on the 60-day injury list for elbow tendinitis which has sidelined him since July. Giants: RHP Robbie Ray is expected to participate in warmups ahead of Friday's game to assess his ongoing left hamstring pain. Leadoff hitter Tyler Fitzgerald was pulled from the game early due to lower back tightness.

UP NEXT

The Giants will host a series against the Padres on Friday with Dylan Cease (12-11, 3.71 ERA) on the mound for San Diego. San Francisco has not named a starter.

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

Milwaukee Brewers' Frankie Montas pitches to a San Francisco Giants batter during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

Milwaukee Brewers' Frankie Montas pitches to a San Francisco Giants batter during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

Milwaukee Brewers' Willy Adames, left, scores on a wild pitch by San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval during the seventh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

San Francisco Giants shortstop Brett Wisely, left, throws out Milwaukee Brewers' Joey Ortiz at first base during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval throws to a Milwaukee Brewers batter during the seventh inning of a a baseball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio, left, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio, right, hits a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kavin Mistry)

MILAN (AP) — The United States player pool has never been more prominent in Europe’s top soccer leagues and two of its key players scored on the opening night of the continent’s top competition on Tuesday.

Christian Pulisic netted AC Milan’s early opener in its Champions League match against Liverpool. That came shortly after Weston McKennie scored Juventus’ second during a 3-1 win over PSV Eindhoven in an earlier match.

The match at San Siro was less than three minutes old when Pulisic played a one-two with Alvaro Morata and burst down the right flank before firing across into the far bottom corner.

It was a fitting way for Pulisic, who turns 26 on Wednesday, to mark his birthday.

Pulisic was the first American to play in a Champions League final when he won the competition with Chelsea in 2021.

Three other Americans also featured on the opening day of the revamped Champions League, with Ricardo Pepi, Malik Tillman and Richie Ledezma playing for PSV. More of their compatriots — such as Borussia Dortmund's Gio Reyna and injured Juventus forward Tim Weah — could feature later this week or further on in the competition.

With so many players competing at club soccer's highest level, that can only be good news for new U.S coach Mauricio Pochettino as the Americans ramp up for a home World Cup in 2026.

Pulisic moved to Milan before the start of last season and had an impressive debut campaign at the Italian team, with 15 goals across all competitions.

That made Pulisic the first midfielder to score more than 10 goals for Milan — excluding penalties — since Kaka in the 2005-06 season.

Kaka was at San Siro for Tuesday's match and gave a short speech to the Rossoneri fans before kickoff. The former Brazil international — and World Cup winner — spent six seasons at Milan, helping it to its last Champions League title in 2007.

Pulisic has made a flying start to the current season too, with two goals and two assists in Milan's four opening Serie A matches.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Juventus' Weston McKennie celebrates with teammates Federico Gatti, top, and Andrea Cambiaso, right, after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Juventus and PSV Eindhoven at the Juventus stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

Juventus' Weston McKennie celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Juventus and PSV Eindhoven at the Juventus stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's Christian Pulisic, center, is congratulated after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AC Milan and Liverpool at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

AC Milan's Christian Pulisic, second from right, scores his side's opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AC Milan and Liverpool at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

AC Milan's Christian Pulisic celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AC Milan and Liverpool at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)