Buc Bats Baffled By Woodruff, Brewers In 3-0 Loss

Through the first two frames, Joe Musgrove and Brandon Woodruff traded zips, with Phil Evan's dribbled single the only damage done by either side. In the third, an old Big Joe bugaboo bit: Ben Gamel launched a two-run homer and the Bucs were in the hole, with another run saved when Bryan Reynolds cut down a runner at home. It was 1-2-3 for Pittsburgh. Musgrove regained control in the fourth while Woodruff has fanned seven and hasn't had a ball leave the infield. The fifth was also scoreless. The Crew tried to start some two-out trouble with a bopped batter and walk while Gregory tested the Milwaukee outfield with a fly, the first ball off of Woodruff to travel past the dirt, but no cigars were awarded. Keston Hiura led off the sixth with a long fly that barely cleared the fence in center to make it 3-0. With two away, a walk ended Joe's night at 91 pitches and brought on Dovy Neverauskas, who issued a walk followed by a K. Woodruff continued to spin 'em like an ace. 

Phil Evans 2020 photo Carmen Mandato/Getty

Robbie Erlin got the seventh. He gave up a lead-off double, but worked out of it. Evans was Woodruff's thorn as he drew a leadoff walk. J-Bell struck out, and then Craig Counsell yanked Woody and brought in David Phelps. The lefty made CC look like a genius by whiffing both Colin Moran and Bryan Reynolds. Erlin gave up an opening single and two-out intentional walk, but posted another zero in the eighth. Devin Williams got the call and kept the goose eggs rollin'. Richard Rodriguez toed the slab in the ninth and whiffed a pair in a clean frame before Josh Hader came on and tucked it away.

Woodruff was terrific, hitting the corners, working the upper zone and changing speeds while Milwaukee's back end did their part. He fanned 10 and was a 15' squibber away from a no-hitter. Good pitching and a Pirate attack that sputters much of the time made for a mismatch tonight. Big Joe was again looking good for most of the game with a sharp slider but can't seem to avoid the four-base mistake; he's given up four dingers in 11-1/3 IP. The Pirates are off tomorrow before they visit Wrigley Field on Friday.

Notes:

• Bryan Reynolds leads MLB in outfield assists with three.
• Woodruff retired 17 straight Bucs between Phil Evans' single and later walk.
• Tonight was the first time the Brewers scored first this year.
• Heston Kiura has 21 career homers; seven were hit in PNC Park, per Brew Crew beat man Adam McCalvy.