Logan Henderson looked great through six strong innings, but Milwaukee couldn’t complete the sweep of the Nationals as a ninth-inning rally fell just short in Sunday’s series finale.
Both teams combined for just one hit, a Brandon Lockridge double, through the first four innings. Milwaukee was the first team to score, breaking through in the top of the fifth after Lockridge led off with a bunt single off Zack Littell. Littell then walked Sal Frelick to put runners at first and second. David Hamilton, who struck out on a bunt in his first at-bat, got it down this time — advancing Frelick to second and Lockridge to third.
As is often the case, Joey Ortiz came up with runners in scoring position. Littell left a sinker up in the zone, and Ortiz squared it up, sending a fly ball to left-center that likely would’ve been a three-run homer if not for the wind blowing in at Nationals Park. Center fielder Jacob Young ran it down on the warning track, but the sacrifice fly still gave the Brewers a one-run lead.
Henderson’s bid for perfection ended in the fifth when CJ Abrams led off with a ground ball to first. Jake Bauers made a nice play, but Henderson slipped on his way over to cover the bag, allowing Abrams to reach safely. Daylen Lile struck out on a foul tip for the first out, but Abrams promptly stole second to give Washington its first runner in scoring position.
Nasim Nuñez followed with a single to center, scoring the speedy Abrams and tying the game at 1-1. The next batter, José Tena, worked the count to 2-2 before turning on a cutter and driving it into the right-center gap. Nuñez came around to score from first on the triple, giving the Nationals the lead.
With still only one out and Nuñez on third, Henderson managed to bear down, inducing a soft lineout from Jorbit Vivas and a flyout from Keibert Ruiz to keep the deficit to one run.
Washington added an insurance run in the seventh against Brian Fitzpatrick, who came in for Henderson to start the seventh. In a sequence that felt like déjà vu all over again, Abrams led off with another infield single and Nuñez came through with another RBI single to extend the lead to 3-1.
Meanwhile, the Brewers’ offense went quiet. Milwaukee went down in order in the sixth, seventh, and eighth before finally showing signs of life in the ninth. William Contreras grounded out to start the inning, but Gary Sánchez singled to bring the tying run — Jake Bauers — to the plate. Bauers hit a single to right to advance Blake Perkins (running for Sánchez) to third.
With runners on the corners, Garrett Mitchell hit a slow chopper to second. Nuñez charged, fielded it cleanly, and threw across his body to get Mitchell by a hair. Perkins scored to make it a one-run game, with the tying run now in scoring position.
Unfortunately, that’s as close as Milwaukee would get. Brandon Lockridge waved at a sweeper in the dirt for strike three, ending the game.
The biggest positive from today’s game was Henderson. Despite taking the loss, he went six innings and struck out eight, allowing two runs and just three hits without walking a batter. Every time Henderson has started for the Brewers, he’s shown he belongs in the majors, but it’s hard to win games when your offense can only muster four hits. Brandon Lockridge’s bunt single was the only hit the Brewers recorded in 5 2/3 innings against Zack Littell (7.24 ERA after today’s game) and Mitchell Parker (4.05 ERA).
The Brewers will look to bounce back in tomorrow’s series opener against the second-place St. Louis Cardinals, who currently boast a 20-13 record. They’ll also be getting first baseman Andrew Vaughn back, who has been out since March 28 with a fractured left hand (and maybe Jackson Chourio, too). First pitch is slated for 6:45 p.m.
