Woodruff strong for 7 innings as Brewers top Marlins
MILWAUKEE -- The hurricane-displaced Miami Marlins finally get to go home -- not a day too soon after the Milwaukee Brewers battered them on Sunday.
Travis Shaw, Jesus Aguilar and Manny Pina each had two hits in Milwaukee's eight-run fourth inning, lifting the Brewers to a 10-3 victory.
With two outs in the fourth and Milwaukee leading 1-0, Miami starter Dillon Peters (0-2) walked Woodruff (2-2) on five pitches to load the bases. The next six hitters reached base and the Brewers opened an 8-0 lead.
"Obviously, you don't want to walk the pitcher, but I've seen that happen," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.
Milwaukee stayed four games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and got within three games of Colorado for the final NL wild-card spot. The Rockies were playing later Sunday.
"A lot of things are out of our control right now, but at the same time if we don't win it doesn't matter what happens on that scoreboard and in those other cities," Shaw said. "We have to take care of our business."
Milwaukee travels to Pittsburgh before the Brewers and Cubs open a four-game series in Milwaukee on Thursday night.
For Miami, it was the final "home" game of a series relocated from Marlins Park because of Hurricane Irma. Miami has lost 17 of 20 games after winning 13 of 16. The Marlins return home Monday to face the New York Mets.
Aguilar went 3 for 5, Shaw was 3 for 4 with three RBIs, and Domingo Santana was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and two walks. Milwaukee's 16 hits tied a season high.
Woodruff, a rookie right-hander, allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out five in seven innings.
https://youtu.be/c1wd3APCdQs
Peters, a rookie left-hander, allowed eight runs on nine hits and three walks.
Milwaukee's first three batters reached base in the fourth, and the Brewers took a 1-0 lead on Pina's RBI single. Peters then struck out Keon Broxton and Orlando Arcia, but walked Woodruff to load the bases.
Hernan Perez reached on an infield single to make it 2-0, and Santana doubled to the center field wall, clearing the bases.
Ryan Braun was intentionally walked and Shaw hit an RBI single, chasing Peters. Aguilar and Pina each singled off Odrisamer Despaigne to make it 8-0.
"I'm definitely not going to take all the credit because Domingo came up and hit that gap, but I think that kind of propelled that big inning," Woodruff said of his walk.
It was Milwaukee's second eight-run inning in the series. The Brewers scored eight in the eighth inning of Friday's 10-2 win.
Miami strung together four consecutive hits to score three runs in the bottom of the fourth, capped by Ichiro Suzuki's two-run double.
BULLPEN RESTS
Woodruff's seven innings allowed most of Milwaukee's relievers to rest. The Brewers used eight relievers Friday night and four on Saturday night. "It puts us in a really good spot for the next series," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "We usually don't talk every day about this, but the way we're using our pitching, it's important."
ROAD WEARY
The Marlins went 2-8 on their extended road trip, allowing 73 runs altogether and 10 runs in four of the games. "It's been a difficult trip for a number of reasons," Mattingly said.
NICE TURNOUT
The three-game series drew 68,983 fans, an average of 22,994 per game, despite being moved to Milwaukee from Miami on two days' notice. It was more than the 20,378 that the Marlins have averaged in Miami this season. The bottom two levels of Miller Park were open and all tickets were $10. Counsell called the turnout "incredible on 48 hours' notice."
STANTON FATIGUED
Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors with 54 homers, told Mattingly he could use a day off because of fatigue and was not in the starting lineup. He pinch-hit in the fourth and hit a hard grounder that deflected off Shaw's glove at third and bounced to Arcia at shortstop for a groundout.
https://youtu.be/AL9-wPkKjSM
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: SS Miguel Rojas suffered a left shoulder strain while diving for a ground ball in the second. He was replaced by Mike Aviles. The team said he was day-to-day.
UP NEXT
Marlins: RHP Dan Straily (9-9, 4.24 ERA) faces the Mets' RHP Matt Harvey (5-5, 6.14).
Brewers: LHP Brent Suter (2-2, 3.66) will make his third start in September when the team travels to Pittsburgh. RHP Jameson Taillon (7-6, 4.78) pitches for the Pirates.
