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WP: Brandon Woodruff (1-0)
LP: Matt Strahm (1-1)
SV: Josh Tomlin (1)
Brandon Woodruff is getting closer to locking up a rotation spot to start the season.
Woodruff got the start today, and he was on fire today. In five innings, he allowed a total of two hits and no walks. He also struck out seven in the game. This was Woodruff’s third start of the spring, and he has been lights out. He has pitched a total of nine innings, allowing a total of three hits, four walks, and no runs this spring, along with twelve strikeouts. It’s hard to make a better case for the rotation, and the only thing that might work against Woodruff is that he has an option left. At the same time, with just one option, the Brewers may want to save that option and that could also help him.
Meanwhile, the Brewers offense made sure to back up Woodruff’s strong game. In the first, Ryan Braun singled with two outs, then Mike Moustakas singled and Ryan Braun was able to score from first, giving the Brewers a 1-0 lead. After Yasmani Grandal walked, Eric Thames doubled to bring in both Moustakas and Grandal and make it a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Thames led off with a walk, Hernan Perez singled, and Tyler Saladino walked to load the bases. Lucas Erceg grounded out to first to drive in Thames, increasing the lead to 4-0. After Cain popped out, Cory Spangenberg singled to drive in Perez and Saladino and make it a 6-0 lead.
In addition to Woodruff’s strong start, the Brewers only needed to use two pitchers today, as Josh Tomlin got the last four innings for the Brewers. The Padres got a run off of him in the sixth from a hit by pitch, error by Erceg, and a sacrifice fly. The seventh and eighth were scoreless with just a walk allowed, but the Padres got one more in the ninth. Singles by Tucupita Marcano, and Brad Zunica, put two runners on, and Kelvin Melean was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Boog Powell hit a sacrifice fly to made it a 6-2 game, but Tomlin finished the inning to get a four-inning save.
It’s another Split Squad Saturday tomorrow for the Brewers, with one squad traveling to face the Royals and another staying at Maryvale to face the Rockies. The game against the Royals will not be covered, but the Rockies game will be on the radio. First pitch of both games is at 3:05 pm.