Brewers 8, Nationals 2: Behind surging Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee just keeps on dominating
WASHINGTON — No matter what's happening around them, no matter who's on the diamond, the Milwaukee Brewers just keep on winning.
That was the case yet again for the Brewers in the nation's capital as production rained down from every corner of the lineup and Brandon Woodruff continued his borderline-unbelievable return from shoulder surgery with some of his best pure stuff yet in an 8-2 win over the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 2.
The Brewers' biggest name on offense, Christian Yelich, did more than his share, homering as part of a three-hit day. But the rest of the lineup contributed throughout the afternoon en route to a 15-hit performance on the heels of a 25-knock showing the night before.
BOX SCORE: Brewers 8, Nationals 2
While Woodruff and company held the Nationals to two hits as a team, five different Brewers batters compiled multi-hit games.
The best record in baseball got even better and now sits at 66-44.
Brandon Woodruff keeps looking better and better
Two-run homer aside, this was about as good as Woodruff has looked in his return from shoulder surgery.
Woodruff mostly cruised through six innings, striking out eight and displaying the best fastball he's had yet in his fifth start off the injured list. His average four-seamer was 94 mph and he topped out at 96.3 mph on his penultimate of 86 pitches on the afternoon, the fastest pitch he's hurled in any type of setting since September 17, 2023.
The only hit Woodruff allowed was Robert Hassell's two-run shot in the third on a full-count fastball, making it the right-hander's first outing of one or no hits since April 20, 2022.
Pair of insurance runs late
After going quiet for three innings against Nationals reliever Shinnosuke Ogasawara, some patient at-bats allowed the Brewers to extend their lead back to five.
Blake Perkins led off the eighth inning with a double to left and scored when Brice Turang split the left-center gap with a double of his own on the eighth pitch of his at-bat. Anthony Seigler dropped a perfect bunt down to reach on a hit, which Brandon Lockridge followed with a sacrifice fly to right.
Sal Frelick exits game in fourth with injury
More unwelcome news for the Brewers on the injury front for an important outfielder as Sal Frelick left the game in the top of the fourth inning. Milwaukee called his removal "precautionary" because of left knee soreness.
Jackson Chourio was already placed on the 10-day IL this series with a right hamstring strain.
Nats strike in third inning
Following a walk to .167-hitting Riley Adams with one out in the third, Brandon Woodruff came up on the short end of another long at-bat. This time it was Robert Hassell Jr. who jumped on a 92.9 mph fastball in a 3-2 count and popped it way out to right for his second homer of the year to cut the deficit to 5-2.
Christian Yelich blasts No. 21 on the year
The first pitch of the third inning was a fluttering changeup from Jake Irvin that Christian Yelich did not miss. The Brewers designated hitter powered the ball over the high fence in right-center for his 21st home run and second of the week to give the Brewers a 5-0 lead.
At the time of the swing, it was the Brewers' 32nd hit of the series compared with only 33 outs.
Nationals starter Jake Irvin would only last four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. He only struck out two while walking a pair.
Offense remains hot with a three-run first
The Brewers’ bats carried over from the night before as they jumped on Jake Irvin for three runs with a trio of run-scoring singles in the first. After Frelick doubled to lead off and William Contreras walked, Yelich, Isaac Collins and Perkins roped singles to right to give an early cushion to Woodruff, who pitched a quick, clean bottom half of the first.
What time is the Brewers game today?
Time: 3:10 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Brewers game on today?
TV channel: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin.
Brewers lineup
- Sal Frelick, RF
- William Contreras, C
- Andrew Vaughn, 1B
- Christian Yelich, DH
- Isaac Collins, LF
- Blake Perkins, CF
- Brice Turang, 2B
- Anthony Seigler, 3B
- Joey Ortiz, SS
Nationals lineup
- CJ Abrams, SS
- James Wood, LF
- Luis Garcia Jr., 2B
- Josh Bell, DH
- Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
- Brady House, 3B
- Daylen Lile, RF
- Riley Adams, C
- Robert Hassell III, CF
Brewers schedule
Brewers at Nationals, Aug. 3, 12:35 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Jacob Misiorowski (4-1, 2.70) vs. Washington RHP Brad Lord (2-5, 3.27) TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.