Christian Yelich homers as the major league-leading Brewers beat the Nationals 8-2

WASHINGTON (AP) — Christian Yelich homered, Brandon Woodruff pitched six effective innings and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 on Saturday.

With the majors’ best record at 66-44, Milwaukee is 22 games over .500 for the first time this season. It also has a two-game lead in the NL Central over the Chicago Cubs, who lost 4-3 to Baltimore.

The Brewers have won 17 of their last 21 overall and 20 of their last 26 road games.Robert Hassell III homered for Washington (44-66), which fell to a season-high 22 games below .500. The Nationals managed a season-low two hits.

The Brewers scored three runs in the first inning off Jake Irvin (8-6). Yelich, Isaac Collins and Blake Perkins delivered consecutive RBI singles.

Yelich hit his team-leading 21st homer on the first pitch of the third, a shot to center.