Sal Frelick had a three-run homer, Blake Perkins drove in five runs and Brandon Woodruff allowed one run over five innings to pace the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers to a 9-2 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.
Woodruff (7-2), who missed all of last season following shoulder surgery, was making his first start in 11 days after skipping a turn for extra rest. Woodruff allowed two hits, including a solo homer, striking out nine in a 69-pitch outing.
Taylor Ward had two solo homers, his 32nd and 33rd, for the Angels, who have lost six straight.
Angels starter Jose Soriano (10-11) was removed in the second inning after being struck by a 107.4 mph line drive off the bat of Jake Bauers. Soriano sustained a right forearm contusion and X-rays were negative for a fracture, the team announced.
Milwaukee (93-59), which has clinched a playoff berth and has the best overall record in baseball, maintained its five-game division lead over the Cubs, who won 8-4 at Pittsburgh to clinch their own postseason spot.
The Brewers’ magic number to clinch their fourth division title in five seasons is six. Milwaukee sits 2 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia for the best record in the National League after the visiting Phillies lost 5-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers later Wednesday night.
Bauer’s infield single to load the bases was part of the Brewers’ five-run second. William Contreras walked to open the inning and Brice Turang reached on a bunt single. After Caleb Durbin popped out, Bauers’ liner off Soriano stayed in the infield to load the bases.
Perkins greeted reliever Connor Brogdon with a two-run single. With two outs, Frelick capped a nine-pitch at-bat with his 11th homer, a 382-foot shot to right.
Ward’s leadoff homer in the fourth made it 5-1. He added a two-out homer in the sixth off Nick Mears, who was activated earlier in the day from the injured list.
The Brewers added an unearned run in the bottom half on a double, walk and throwing error by reliever Jose Urena.
Perkins had a bases-loaded triple in the eighth to match his career high of five RBIs.
–Field Level Media
