MILWAUKEE (AP) 鈥� Playing on Mother鈥檚 Day for the first time since his mom鈥檚 death, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Blake Perkins knew this was going to be an emotional afternoon.
Perkins shook off his season-long struggles and delivered a two-run single in the fourth inning for Milwaukee鈥檚 first hit of the day in a that capped the Brewers鈥� first three-game sweep of the New York Yankees since 1989. Perkins produced a performance that could honor his mother, Carisa Sharrett, who died of colon cancer last July at 54.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lot of emotions for me today 鈥� mostly joy in just getting to play for my mom today,鈥� Perkins said. 鈥淚 have so many friends and family members back home who are supporting me. It was good. It was joy 鈥� a lot of joy.鈥�
Perkins said he managed to remain focused on the task at hand once the game started, though he acknowledged the pregame Mother鈥檚 Day festivities brought out his emotions.
鈥淚鈥檓 not saying it was bad emotions,鈥� Perkins said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the first time, the first year, that I鈥檝e celebrated this holiday without her. It was good. I felt her here with me, and obviously I have all the guys here who had my back. It was a good day 鈥� a good Brewers win.鈥�
This has been a tough season for Perkins, part of Milwaukee鈥檚 NL Central championship teams each of the last three years. He was a Gold Glove finalist in 2024.
Perkins, 29, didn鈥檛 make the Brewers鈥� season-opening roster initially and got added only after a hand injury put outfielder on the injured list. Perkins struggled at the plate enough to get sent to the minors a week ago, though he got called back up Saturday after went on the IL. He entered Sunday hitting .109.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy noted Perkins鈥� teammates have been encouraging him to get past this rough start. Equipment manager Jason Shawger already had the ball from Perkins鈥� big hit in a case for him shortly after Sunday鈥檚 game ended. The ball was sitting in Perkins鈥� locker during his postgame media session.
鈥淗e didn鈥檛 return as the starting center fielder. He was disappointed,鈥� Murphy said. 鈥淗e had a lot going on last season, a lot going on in the offseason. It鈥檚 just a matter of there鈥檚 some times we retreat in a way that isn鈥檛 in our best interest. That鈥檚 what happened. He wasn鈥檛 getting results. Even when he was performing well, he wasn鈥檛 getting results. It just kind of snowballed on him. And people that care about him told him, 鈥楲ook. Let鈥檚 go. Clean it up.鈥� He鈥檚 a great human being.鈥�
When Perkins rejoined the major league team Saturday, he said he wanted to do whatever he could to help the team. His opportunity came Sunday as Murphy put him in the starting lineup.
Milwaukee trailed 2-0 when it loaded the bases to start the fourth inning as walked two and hit a batter. The Brewers had cut the lead to 2-1 and had runners on second and third when Perkins hit a two-out liner that got just past second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.鈥檚 dive attempt and went into center field to drive in two runs.
鈥淚 was looking middle of the plate, hoping he made a mistake, and I was able to get that mistake and hit it up the middle,鈥� Perkins said. 鈥淚 was talking to Jazz right after, and he said they literally had moved him like two steps over right before that pitch. It was just the best luck right there.鈥�
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