Jackson Rutledge Shines in First Major League Start as Nationals Beat BrewersJackson Rutledge Shines in First Major League Start as Nationals Beat Brewers MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jackson Rutledge struck out six in his first major league start of the season, Jesse Winker hit his 11th home run and the Washington Nationals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Friday night. Rutledge, who made his only other appearance this year for an inning during a doubleheader in May, allowed just three hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings. Robert Garcia (1-3) pitched 1 1/3 innings with a strikeout to earn the win for the Nationals, who snapped a five-game losing streak. Kyle Finnegan struck out two batters in the ninth for his 24th save. “It was awesome,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Garcia. “He did a good job. His fastball was electric today.” Winker’s RBI double gave Washington a 1-0 lead in the first inning, and two more runs followed in the fourth inning. The Brewers scored twice in the bottom of the fourth before Winker extended the lead again with his homer off Freddy Peralta (6-5) in the fifth. “It’s awesome, especially visiting,” Winker said. “Jackson pitched well, all the guys behind him did a great job and we made some great defensive plays. It was a really good win.” Peralta allowed four runs and 10 hits in five innings, striking out six. The Brewers have lost two games in a row and six of their last eight. Other Highlights * Nationals’ prospect Jose A. Ferrer is progressing in his minor league rehab assignment from a teres major strain. * Brewers’ Joey Ortiz returned from a 10-day absence due to a neck injury and started at first base. * LHP Dallas Keuchel will start for Milwaukee against Mitchell Parker (5-5, 3.44) on Saturday.
MILWAUKEE — Jackson Rutledge struck out six in his first major league start of the season, Jesse Winker hit his 11th home run and the Washington Nationals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Friday night to end a five-game losing streak.
Rutledge, Washington’s 2019 first-round pick whose only other appearance this season was an inning during a doubleheader on May 14, held Milwaukee to three hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Robert Garcia (1-3) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win, and Kyle Finnegan struck out two in the ninth inning for his 24th save.
“It was awesome,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Garcia. “He did a good job. His fastball was electric today. He really, really pitched well.”
The Nationals put Rutledge up 1-0 in the first inning on Winker’s RBI double and scored two more in the fourth before the Brewers scored two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Winker got one of those runs back in the fifth inning when he hit a 94.2 mph fastball from right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta 403 feet to right-center.
“It’s awesome, especially visiting,” Winker said. “Jackson pitched well, all the guys behind him did a great job and we made some great defensive plays. It was a really good win.”
Rutledge played four games for the Nationals last season, finishing 1-1.
Peralta (6-5) gave up four of Washington’s five runs on 10 hits and struck out six in five innings.
“Freddy made a few mistakes, but overall I thought he threw the ball well,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.
The Brewers, leaders in the NL Central, have lost two straight games and six of their last eight.
Nationals: LHP Jose A. Ferrer (teres major strain) will play back-to-back games this weekend as he continues his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg. Martinez said the team will determine Ferrer’s next steps during the All-Star break.
Brewers: INF Joey Ortiz (neck) was recalled from the 10-day injured list Friday night and was in the starting lineup. Ortiz had been sidelined since an 0-for-5 showing at Colorado on July 1. … LHP DL Hall (knee) is expected to return to the team in the coming days despite pulling a comebacker off his forearm during his last minor league rehab start at Triple-A Nashville.
LHP Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 4.61 ERA) was scheduled to start for Milwaukee on Saturday against LHP Mitchell Parker (5-5, 3.44).
This story has been corrected to show that Friday night was Jackson Rutledge’s first major league start of the season, not his first ever. He started four games last season.
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