Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jake Irvin throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich waits on deck during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Milwaukee Brewers’ Sal Frelick gestures at second base after he doubled during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Christian Yelich homers as the major league-leading Brewers beat the Nationals 8-2
WASHINGTON (AP) — Christian Yelich homered, Brandon Woodruff pitched six effective innings and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 on Saturday.
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Christian Yelich homered, Brandon Woodruff pitched six effective innings and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 on Saturday.
With the majors’ best record at 66-44, Milwaukee is 22 games over .500 for the first time this season. It also has a two-game lead in the NL Central over the Chicago Cubs, who lost to Baltimore.
The Brewers have won 17 of their last 21 overall and 20 of their last 26 road games.
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Robert Hassell III homered for Washington (44-66), which fell to a season-high 22 games below .500. The Nationals managed a season-low two hits.
The Brewers scored three runs in the first inning off Jake Irvin (8-6). Yelich, Isaac Collins and Blake Perkins delivered consecutive RBI singles.
Yelich hit his on the first pitch of the third, a shot to center.
Woodruff (3-0) allowed one hit and struck out eight. He walked Riley Adams ahead of Hassell’s second homer in the third.
Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick left in the fourth because of left knee soreness. The team said it was a precautionary move.
Frelick, a Gold Glove winner last season, was on the injured list last month .
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Key moment
Milwaukee’s three-run first allowed Woodruff to pitch with a lead his entire outing.
Key stat
Woodruff improved to 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA in nine career appearances against Washington. He has 63 strikeouts and five walks in 48 innings against the Nationals.
Up next
Milwaukee All-Star RHP Jacob Misiorowski (4-1, 2.70 ERA) faces Washington RHP Brad Lord (2-5, 3.27 ERA) in a matchup of rookies as the series concludes Sunday.
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