Three home runs plus strong start from Brandon Woodruff give Brewers 3-1 win over Padres

Box Score

The Brewers have developed a 1-2 punch at the start of the rotation that can give them a strong chance tin win any game. Tonight, it was Brandon Woodruff’s fourth time to start this season.

It didn’t start out well for him. The first two batters he faced reached on a walk and a single, putting Jurickson Profar and Jake Cronenworth on the corners with no outs. Fernando Tatis Jr. grounded out to drive Profar in, giving the Padres the early 1-0 lead.

However, Woodruff settled down after that. After the first inning, he allowed just two more baserunners the entire game, both coming on walks. He finished the day with six innings pitched, allowing just the one run in the first inning. He also had one hit allowed and three walks, while striking out seven Padres.

Meanwhile, the offense was not in top form tonight, but they got the job done. After two innings where they went down in order, Luis Urias led off the third inning and hit a home run to right field to tie the game at 1-1. Unfortunately, on the home run trot, Urias felt a cramp in his calf. He was removed from the game, and after the game it was said to be a precautionary move.

The Brewers wouldn’t get another baserunner until the fifth inning, but the baserunner also provided a run. In the fifth, Billy McKinney hit another solo home run to right field, this one giving the Brewers a 2-1 lead. The Brewers did start to get to Musgrove after that, collecting a double and a walk in the sixth but not scoring either. They also had a single in the seventh, but that was it. Overall, Musgrove had a very strong day on the mound, striking out thirteen Brewers while walking only one. However, his four hits allowed, two of which went for home runs, put him on the wrong end in this game.

The Brewers did tack on one more run in the game, with Tyrone Taylor getting a pinch hit appearance with some family in the stands. Leading off the eighth inning, he hit a massive home run to center field off former Brewer Drew Pomeranz, giving the Brewer an insurance run with a 3-1 lead.

That was all the support the pitching staff needed. J.P. Feyereisen worked around a walk for a scoreless seventh inning, and Brent Suter worked around a hit in a scoreless eighth inning. Josh Hader came in and closed it out for the Brewers, recording his second save of the season in the 3-1 win.

The three-game west coast road trip continues tomorrow night in San Diego. Corbin Burnes is back on the mound with his 0.49 ERA, and he will face Chris Paddack of the Padres. First pitch is at 9:05 PM.