For the second time in three games, the Brewers outscored the Arizona Diamondbacks by double digits. Milwaukee got to Michael Soroka early and often, and despite Brandon Woodruff’s exit in the second inning, the bullpen — led by Shane Drohan — held Arizona to just one run over 7 2/3 innings. Milwaukee is now two games over .500 as they head to the nation’s capital for a series against the Washington Nationals.
Woodruff walked D-Backs leadoff man Geraldo Perdomo to start the game, but retired
the next three batters to get back to the dugout unscathed.
At first glance, that seems like a fairly unremarkable first inning for the veteran right-hander, but it was anything but. Woodruff threw fifteen pitches in the first inning, but none of them touched 87 mph. Not only was the lack of velocity concerning, but — as described by our own Dave Gasper — he “looked uncomfortable delivering the baseball. His smooth, repeatable, athletic delivery looked rigid, unathletic, and unusual.”
Woodruff came back out for the second inning, but clearly didn’t look right and was pulled after allowing a one-out single to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Grant Anderson came in to finish the inning with strikeouts of Nolan Arenado and Alek Thomas.
With Woodruff out of the game early, this one effectively became a bullpen game for Milwaukee. Thankfully, the Brewers’ offense was able to give their pitching staff some quick run support with a three-spot in the bottom of the first off Soroka. With one out, William Contreras lined a double down the left field line. Garrett Mitchell, who had led off with a walk, scored from first to give the Crew an early lead. Soroka then walked Jake Bauers to put runners on first and second.
Tyler Black flew out for the second out, but Luis Rengifo kept the inning alive by lacing a double into the gap in right-center field. Contreras scored, Bauers scored, and just like that, the Brewers were up three runs before the end of the first inning.
Milwaukee added three more runs in the bottom of the third. After Brice Turang led off the inning with a single, Contreras delivered again, hitting a moonshot over the center field fence for a two-run home run. Soroka couldn’t stop the bleeding there, allowing back-to-back singles to Bauers and Black. Rengifo grounded out for the first out of the inning, but Bauers scored from third to put the Brewers up six runs.
Arizona finally got on the board in the fourth off Shane Drohan, who had come in to start the third inning. Corbin Carroll led off with a double to give the D-backs their first runner in scoring position. Drohan struck out cleanup hitter Adrian Del Castillo, but allowed consecutive singles to Idelmaro Vargas and Gurriel. Gurriel’s single scored Carroll from third to put Arizona on the board.
After that, Drohan settled in, escaping the inning by retiring Arenado and Thomas. With Woodruff exiting early, he gave the Brewers exactly what they needed — length and stability out of the bullpen. He turned in four strong innings, allowing five hits but just one earned run.
After giving up three runs in each of his first two appearances with Milwaukee, Drohan has responded by allowing just one run over his last five innings. He’s starting to look like a dependable option — most likely as a long reliever, but with the ability to step into the rotation if needed.
Meanwhile, the Brewers’ offense kept the pressure on, adding two more runs with consecutive singles from Hamilton, Mitchell, Turang, and Contreras. That last hit from Contreras ended Soroka’s day after eight runs on ten hits. The Crew also tacked on three more runs in the sixth — thanks to a Bauers groundout and a two-run double from Black — and another in the seventh on a Sal Frelick homer, his third of the year.
Frelick’s home run brought the score to 12-1, but Milwaukee wasn’t done there. They scored their thirteenth and final run of the game off of D-Backs catcher James McCann, who walked Black with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth. Jake Woodford struck out two on the way to retiring the side in the ninth, bringing the game to its final score of Milwaukee 13, Arizona 1.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Woodruff’s status, the rest of this game was incredibly encouraging. The bullpen shut down a dangerous Diamondbacks lineup, and every starter besides Greg Jones recorded at least one hit — including William Contreras, who went 4-for-4 with four RBIs. Hopefully the Brewers can carry their offensive momentum into their upcoming series against a Nationals team that swept them earlier this year.
Tomorrow’s series opener pits No. 1 starter Jacob Misiorowski against right-hander Jake Irvin. First pitch is set for 5:45 p.m. CT.
