Brandon Woodruff, Brewers best Rays in Shane McClanahan’s return

Gary Sanchez and Jake Bauers homered and Brandon Woodruff pitched five effective innings in his season debut, pacing the Milwaukee Brewers past the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Tuesday.

The result spoiled the first appearance for Tampa Bay starter Shane McClanahan in 972 days.

Woodruff (1-0), who sustained a season-ending lat injury in late September that kept him out of the playoffs, allowed two solo homers and four hits while striking out six without a walk. Woodruff also missed all of 2024 following shoulder surgery.

McClanahan (0-1) was back on a major league mound for the first time since Aug. 2, 2023. The two-time All Star missed all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery, then sat out last season due to nerve problems in his left triceps.

McClanahan allowed just a walk through the first four innings before the Brewers erased a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the fifth, including the go-ahead run on an overturned call.

Sanchez walked to open the Milwaukee fifth. Brandon Lockridge singled with one out, and Joey Ortiz drew a two-out walk to load the bases.

Brice Turang then singled to right, driving in Sanchez and Lockridge, with Ortiz heading home as Turang got in a rundown. Turang was initially called out at second before Ortiz scored, but the call was overturned as a dropped ball on the tag by center fielder Cedric Mullins, allowing Ortiz’s run to count on the error.

McClanahan allowed three runs, two earned, on two hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three in a 79-pitch outing.

The Brewers added two runs in the sixth off Cole Sulser to make it 5-2. Sanchez hit a two-out solo homer, his second. Bauers then singled, stole second and scored on Lockridge’s double.

Bauers opened the eighth with his second homer to put Milwaukee up 6-2.

Jared Koenig, Grant Anderson, Abner Uribe and Angel Zerpa followed Woodruff with a scoreless inning apiece.

Jonathan Aranda staked the Rays to a 1-0 lead with one out in the first with his second homer, sending a 1-0 pitch from Woodruff 388 feet to left-center.

Nick Fortes opened the fifth inning with his first homer to put the Rays up 2-0.

–Field Level Media