06/28/22 10:41:00
Printable Page
06/28 22:39 CDT Woodruff fans 10 in return from IL, Brewers beat Rays 5-3
Woodruff fans 10 in return from IL, Brewers beat Rays 5-3
By MARK DIDTLER
Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) --- Brandon Woodruff struck out 10 over five innings
in his return from the injured list, Andrew McCutchen and Luis Uras homered
during a four-run sixth, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3
on Tuesday night.
Woodruff, who hurt his right ankle on May 27 at St. Louis, allowed one run and
two hits. While on the 15-day injured list, Raynaud's syndrome affected his
pitching fingers.
"He pitched wonderfully," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "The fastball
was very, very good. Overpowering for most of the game. It was fun to watch, it
really was."
The right-hander's average four-seam fastball was 97.7 mph, which tied with a
start on July 21, 2019 at Arizona for his fastest in any outing.
Woodruff had no issues with his fingers.
"That's a good, positive sign," Woodruff said. "I'll just keep monitoring it,
But as far as today, if it goes like it does today for the rest of the year
I'll be happy with that."
Woodruff (6-3) was perfect through three innings with seven strikeouts. He made
his major league debut on Aug. 4, 2017 at Tropicana Field against the Rays and
went 6 1/3 innings in a 2-0 win.
Matt Wisler (2-2) replaced Tampa Bay starter Shane Baz with one on and two outs
in the sixth, and it took eight pitches for the Brewers to turn a one-run
deficit into to a 4-1 lead. McCutchen connected on Wisler's second offering for
a two-run shot, and after Kolten Wong doubled, Uras hit another two-run drive.
"Wis has been so good for us," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "It kind of
came together really fast. They handled the breaking ball, got it up in the air
and hit a couple big home runs."
Wisler was coming off a stretch of 11 scoreless outings in 12 games.
Uras added an RBI double in the eighth.
Josh Hader struck out the side in the ninth for his 23rd save in 24 chances.
Baz gave up one run, three hits and two walks along with six strikeouts in 5
1/3 innings.
Jason Alexander entered in the eighth and walked his first two batters: Brett
Phillips, who's in a 4-for-51 slide, and Yandy Daz. After a passed ball,
Wander Franco had a sacrifice fly and Harold Ramrez hit a run-scoring grounder
to get the Rays within 5-3.
Devin Williams replaced Alexander, who was hit in the leg by Randy Arozarena's
two-out base hit. After walking Isaac Paredes, Williams got a fielder's choice
from Josh Lowe.
Alexander was OK after the game.
Daz doubled on a nine-pitch at-bat leading off the fourth and scored to make
it 1-0 on Arozarena's two-out single.
Tampa Bay extended its team-record stretch to 13 consecutive games decided by
two or fewer runs. It's the longest stretch in the major's since the New York
Yankees had 16 in a row from July 20-Aug, 5, 2014.
DEFENSIVE GEM
Woodruff came off the mound on the third-base side to field Arozarena's hopper
in the second and first baseman Rowdy Tellez scooped the pitcher's throw from
the dirt to complete the out.
WELCOME BACK
There was a video tribute after the second inning for Brewers infielders Willy
Adames and Mike Brosseau, who returned to Tropicana Field. The pair were on the
Rays' 2020 AL pennant-winning team.
Adames received a nice ovation before his first-inning at-bat and tipped his
batting helmet toward the stands.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: Wong (right calf) returned after missing 15 games. ... Left-hander
Aaron Ashby (left forearm) could be back later this week. ... Right fielder
Jace Peterson stayed in the game after an awkward slide on a bullpen mound
trying to catch Paredes' seventh-inning foul ball.
Rays: First baseman Ji-Man Choi (left ankle) didn't play.
UP NEXT
Milwaukee lefty Eric Lauer (6-3) starts the finale of the two-game series on
Wednesday. He has allowed eight homers over his last three starts. The Rays
will have a bullpen day with left-hander Jalen Beeks (1-1) as the opener.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
|