MIAMI — With all the injuries the Brewers’ offense has been hit with, they needed a strong performance from starter Brandon Woodruff on Saturday, what with the Marlins throwing ace Sandy Alcantara at them and all.
Turns out, the Brewers got plenty against Alcantara, especially with Woodruff dealing the way he was.
Milwaukee chased Alcantara after five innings, got a three-RBI game from Brice Turang, and a strong start from Woodruff in a 5-2 win over the Marlins at loanDepot park.
Since snapping their six-game losing streak with a home win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday, the Brewers have won four straight and go for the series sweep against the Marlins on Sunday afternoon.
“[Woodruff] was tremendous. Again,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said. “The way he and [catcher William Contreras] worked together, how they navigated the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings was beautiful. Actually, all game. He just did a great job. Just goes to show you, old-school command, keep them off balance. They did a great job together.”
Woodruff went seven innings on Saturday, and the only run he allowed was off a chopper single through the infield in the second.
Miami took the 1-0 lead, but not for long. After the Brewers tied the score in the fourth on a single from Brandon Lockridge, Turang gave Milwaukee the lead for good with a two-run homer to right in the fifth.
“I’ve been trying to be aggressive, obviously, in the zone,” Turang said when asked about his home run. “I just tried to put a good swing on it.”
That was all Woodruff (2-0) needed this day.
“In the meeting, we knew they had an aggressive lineup, so we tried to use that against them, make some quality pitches early,” said Woodruff, who allowed three hits with four strikeouts.
“I think that’s usually a good game plan for me going in, just establishing the fastball and trying to get to the other stuff, read swings, and let the defense play. We have a good defense. That’s what I tried to do today.”
Woodruff got a little more run support in the sixth with Alcantara (2-2) out of the game.
Miami’s ace issued six walks — including three straight to load the bases with one out in the third, only Gary Sánchez grounded into an inning-ending double play to avoid damage — and allowed three hits.
Alcantara was behind on the count on 10 of the 24 batters he faced in his five innings.
Miami brought in Anthony Bender from the bullpen in the sixth, and a fielder’s choice by Sal Frelick scored Garrett Mitchell after he led off with a walk, stole second, then went to third on a wild pitch.
Mitchell was originally called out, but the Brewers won their challenge that he beat the throw from Miami second baseman Xavier Edwards and got past the tag of Liam Hicks.
“He has to slide head-first,” Murphy said. “You can’t slide with your feet at home plate in this day and age. It slows you down. But, yeah, it was great.’’
Turang got his third RBI of the game with a two-out single to make it 5-1.
The Marlins made things interesting in the ninth, loading the bases with one out off Jake Woodford.
Murphy went to the bullpen and brought in Abner Uribe, who got the final two outs off infield grounders. Miami did score a run on a forceout, but that was it.
The Brewers drew 11 walks in the game.
“That’s how we have to play,” Murphy said. “I thought our approach got crappy after the sixth … thought we gave away a lot of at-bats. It’s not typical of us. Before that, we were grinding them out. I think it’s going to be key that we do that.”