Game report
Brewers 11, Rangers 4
A seven-run third highlighted a victory for the Brewers on a 100-degree night in Phoenix. Christian Yelich homered to cap the scoring in the inning, while Luis Rengifo and Gary Sanchez went back to back in the second inning.
The main story was Brandon Woodruff’s outing, his final tuneup in Cactus League play. He ultimately went three innings, allowing three runs including back-to-back homers in his final inning of work, but registered four “ups” by beginning the fourth inning.
“It was a good first three innings there,” he said. “I worked a little bit in the third but was able to make some pitches. The fourth, it’s part of the build up. That’s the tough part, is just trying to get the pitch count up, get out there and then kind of add the long innings.”
Woodruff struck out four but did surrender the two homers in the fourth before exiting on fastballs of 88.6 and 88.8 mph. His velocity was noticeably down in his final inning but he said after the outing he felt strong.
“I feel good physically, so that’s important,” Woodruff said. “It’s just, you got to get built up. It’s such a long season that right now, this is the preparation part for the regular season.”
Does Woodruff, who’s otherwise sat between 92 and 93 mph this spring, feel he has more in the tank?
“Yeah. I mean, is there 100 in there?” he said. “I don’t know. I’ve only hit it once in my life. But for sure there’s more in the tank. I mean, no offense to spring training but the blood is not really stirring up that much. It takes a big league game. It takes a big stadium, some crowds.”
The next question for Woodruff is when he will take the mound again. He’s healthy and ramped up enough to potentially take the ball in a big-league outing next time his turn comes up. Woodruff’s spot also lines up with opening day March 26, but he and the Brewers remain non-committal on who will pitch that game.
“It’s probably a game time decision the next few days,” Woodruff said. “I don’t really know at this moment. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow.”
Brewers spring training schedule
Brewers at Dbacks, 8:10 p.m. Friday: Milwaukee RHP Jacob Misiorowski vs. Arizona RHP Zac Gallen. Radio – 620 WTMJ.
Brewers vs. Padres, 3:10 p.m. Saturday: Milwaukee LHP Robert Gasser vs. San Diego TBA. Radio – 620 WTMJ.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brandon Woodruff wraps up his spring training. What’s next?
Reporting by Curt Hogg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
