Last season, the Brewers were known for forcing errors and causing chaos in games. If Tuesday is any indication, that’s going to continue in 2026. A pair of strange challenges were the highlight moments in a 6-2 win over the Rays.
Brandon Woodruff got the start tonight, but the Brewers’ first inning troubles continued. It started with a long fly ball from Yandy Díaz that had enough distance, but just hooked foul. Woodruff struck him out, but Jonathan Aranda responded with a home run into the Brewers’ bullpen,
and the Brewers started another game behind. Woodruff rebounded with a strikeout of Junior Caminero and fly out from Jake Fraley, but the Brewers were down 1-0.
As for the Rays, starter Shane McClanahan was locked in to begin his first MLB start since 2023. He retired the Brewers in order in the first, striking out William Contreras to punctuate the inning. He allowed his first baserunner in the second when he walked Gary Sánchez, but that was all. He continued to mow through the Brewers’ lineup for the next two innings, not allowing another baserunner.
Woodruff tried to match McClanahan as much as he could. He struck out two batters in a clean second inning. Chandler Simpson created a threat in the third with a leadoff single and steal of second, but Woodruff stranded him there. Caminero singled to give the Rays another leadoff runner in the fourth, but that was it in a scoreless inning.
The Rays added on in the fifth with their second home run of the day, a solo home run by Nick Fortes. That was all Woodruff allowed in the fifth, and it was also the end of his day. The overall line wasn’t too bad — he allowed two runs and four hits in five innings while striking out six. He threw 67 pitches, and his velocity started down but improved as the start went on.
McClanahan entered the fifth with a no-hit bid forming. He had just allowed one walk so far in the game. That would change quickly. Sánchez led off the inning with a walk, then Brandon Lockridge broke up the no-hit bid with a single to left. After Sal Frelick flew out, Joey Ortiz drew a walk to load the bases with two out.
Brice Turang came up to the plate with a chance to cause some damage. He did that with a single to shallow right field, easily scoring both Sánchez and Lockridge. Turang attempted to get to second and was easily caught between bases, but tried to keep a run down going so Ortiz could score. It didn’t appear to work as Turang was tagged out by Mullins covering second, and before Ortiz scored at home. However, the ball popped out of Mullins’ glove as he made the tag, but was ruled as in the process of changing hands. Pat Murphy challenged the call, and on replay it was clear that the ball was not caught cleanly. Turang was ruled safe and Ortiz’s run counted. The end result was a bases-clearing single and two RBI for Turang (the third scored due to the error). The Brewers now had a 3-2 lead.
That ended McClanahan’s day with Cole Sulser coming in to finish the inning. He needed just one pitch as Rengifo grounded to first. McClanahan finished his day with 4 2/3 innings pitched, three runs allowed (two earned), two hits, three walks, and four strikeouts.
Jared Koenig was first out of the bullpen for the sixth inning. He allowed a two-out double to Fraley, but nothing else in a scoreless inning. Meanwhile, Sulser remained in the game for the sixth inning. After outs from Contreras and Yelich to start the inning, the Brewers put together some two-out offense. It started with Sánchez’s second home run of the season, a solo shot that increased the lead to 4-2.
Bauers was up next. He hit a 2-0 fastball at second baseman Ben Williamson, but he couldn’t cleanly catch the ball. He recovered and tried to throw Bauers out at first, but his throw was wide and Bauers was safe. However, in what can only be described as a ridiculous call, first base umpire CB Bucknor said Bauers did not touch first base and was tagged out. That was a quick challenge from Murphy, and on replay it not only showed Bauers’ foot on the center of first base, but Bucknor wasn’t even looking at first base at that time. The call was reversed and both managers were laughing at that call.
That kept the inning going with Lockridge at the plate. Bauers stole second to give Lockridge a runner in scoring position, and Lockridge made it count with an RBI double into the right-center field gap.
Frelick kept it going with a ground ball to Williamson that was bobbled, but Ortiz grounded out to short to end the inning.
Grant Anderson took the seventh. The Rays made him work, with Fortes taking 10 pitches before grounding out and then Simpson tripling to the right field corner. Anderson kept them off the board with a strikeout of Williams to end the inning. Meanwhile, Yoendrys Gómez came in for the bottom of the seventh. Turang drew a walk to start the inning and stole second. Gómez followed it up with a strikeout of Rengifo and line out of Contreras, then chose to walk Yelich intentionally. Murphy went to Garrett Mitchell to pinch hit, but Mitchell struck out looking to end the inning.
With a three-run lead, the Brewers went to their setup man as Abner Uribe entered the game. His inning started well enough with fly outs of Díaz and Aranda, but then walked Caminero. Fraley singled to left to bring the tying run to the plate, and pinch-hitter Richie Palacios hit a sharp fly ball down the right field line. Frelick was ready for it as he sprinted to the line and caught it running to end the inning.
The save situation would be rendered moot in the bottom of the inning. Bauers did more damage to the Rays’ pitching staff, hitting his second home run of the season just over the right field wall. That made it a four-run lead at 6-2.
Angel Zerpa finished the game for the Brewers. He worked around a two-out walk for a scoreless ninth, securing the Brewers 6-2 win.
Bauers and Lockridge led the offense with two-hit days, each driving in a run as well. Turang’s one hit drove in two runs (and one unearned). Sánchez also brought in a run with his home run, and added two walks as well. Frelick had the other hit for the Brewers’ offense.
The Brewers will play their first rubber match of the season tomorrow afternoon as they go for the series win. The rotation will begin its second time through as Jacob Misiorowski gets the afternoon start. For the Rays, former Brewer Drew Rasmussen will get his second start of the season. First pitch is set for 12:40 p.m., and it will be on Brewers.TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
