Brandon Woodruff Shines in Return, Leading Brewers to Victory Over Marlins

Brandon Woodruff took the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, marking his first start in 651 days. He delivered an impressive performance, pitching six innings and leading the Brewers to a 3-1 victory over the Miami Marlins. Jackson Chourio contributed significantly, hitting a home run and driving in three runs during the game.

Woodruff (1-0) faced minimal challenges, allowing only a single in the third inning and a fifth-inning homer to rookie Heriberto Hernandez. Striking out eight batters without issuing a walk, he threw 53 of his 70 pitches for strikes. Over his eight seasons with the Brewers, Woodruff has compiled a solid record of 47 wins against 26 losses.

In the third inning, Christian Yelich recorded an infield hit and stole his 13th base, setting the stage for Chourio's 15th home run on a 1-1 pitch from Edward Cabrera, giving Milwaukee a 2-0 lead. Yelich has now reached base in 19 consecutive games.

Hernandez responded with his third home run of the season, narrowing the score to 2-1. Chourio later added a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, further extending the Brewers' lead.

Trevor Megill closed out the game, securing his 20th save in 23 opportunities. Cabrera (3-3) pitched well despite the loss, allowing two runs over seven innings while limiting the Brewers to just two hits.

This defeat marked Miami's third loss in their last 13 games, while Milwaukee concluded their six-game road trip with a balanced record of 3-3.

In a notable moment before the game, Jim Leyland, who led the Marlins to their first World Series title in 1997, was honored with an induction into the team's Wall of Fame.

Woodruff's return is significant; he hadn't pitched since September 23, 2023, against Miami when the Brewers clinched a postseason berth. Following right shoulder surgery last October, his comeback was further delayed by ankle and elbow injuries this season.

The Marlins are set to begin a four-game series against Cincinnati, with no starter announced for Monday's matchup against Reds RHP Brady Singer (7-6, 4.36 ERA). Meanwhile, the Brewers will send RHP Freddy Peralta (9-4, 2.91) to the mound for their first game of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers.