dpUpdated July 4, 2026, 11:25 p.m. CT
PHOENIX – First, the Milwaukee Brewers lost Brandon Woodruff. Next, they lost the game.
This Fourth of July was no cause for celebration for the Brewers as they fell, 4-3, to the Arizona Diamondbacks on an evening when Milwaukee left 10 on base and its highest-paid pitcher left the mound with the trainer.
In his third start back from a two-month stay on the injured list, Woodruff departed amidst significantly diminished velocity in the fourth inning.
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Given Woodruff’s injury history, the Brewers have significant reason for concern longterm.
In the short term, the offense was also quite disappointing. Aside from Christian Yelich’s two-run homer in the fourth, they wasted one opportunity after another with ducks on the pond, finishing 3 for 17 with men on base and 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Arizona didn’t put a single runner on base – 22 up, 22 down – from Adrian Del Castillo’s three-run homer in the first against Woodruff until a leadoff single and RBI double against Jared Koenig in the eighth, yet Del Castillo’s swing somehow held up as the Brewers left runners on in every inning but the second and ninth.
The Diamondbacks’ insurance proved important as Jackson Chourio slugged a solo shot off closer Paul Sewald in the ninth.
Brandon Woodruff departs with injury
It was a scene the Brewers are far too familiar with.
First, Woodruff’s velocity dipped. Then, a visit from the trainer followed by Woodruff walking off the mound.
A dejected Woodruff saw his start come to an end after throwing four straight changeups between 73 and 75 mph in the fourth.
It was Woodruff’s third start back from the “dead arm” symptoms he felt in his last outing against Arizona on April 30 that landed him on the injured list for two months.
Craig Yoho comes through with critical relief
Rushed to Arizona with Joel Kuhnel landing on the injured list and then rushed into emergency duty, Craig Yoho delivered.
Yoho, hours after being activated, retired all eight batters he faced upon entering on short notice when Woodruff departed with two outs in the fourth.
It was not only Yoho’s longest outing in the majors, but perhaps his best and helped save a bullpen that covered 25 outs the night prior.
Christian Yelich goes deep
Yelich finally delivered with a runner in scoring position with a 418-foot homer following Brice Turang’s leadoff double that drew Milwaukee within 3-2.
Garrett Mitchell nearly followed in Yelich’s footsteps with a two-run blast but instead had to settle for a 421-foot double to the cavernous center field confines. William Contreras being unable to score from first on the play proved costly when Andrew Vaughn struck out and Sal Frelick lightly grounded to third to drop the Brewers to 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Brewers can’t buy a clutch hit
A night after having a stretch of 13 consecutive hitless at-bats with men in scoring position, the Brewers are 0 for 7 to begin the second game of the series.
While most of those at-bats were poor – two weak Christian Yelich ground outs, Frelick tapper to the catcher and strikeouts by Jake Bauers (twice) and Contreras – they were also snakebit in the fourth when Joey Ortiz smashed a 105.5 mph liner right to Max Kepler in left with the bases loaded and two outs.
First inning escalates quickly on Brandon Woodruff
The first inning spiraled from two out and none on to three runs in the blink of an eye on Woodruff.
First, four uncompetitive misses put Corbin Carroll on base before Gabriel Moreno took advantage of too many pitches over the plate and smoked a single to center.
Woodruff then left another offering dead-red and Del Castillo, a .182 hitter coming in, destroyed it for a first-pitch, three-run homer to right.
Brewers make bullpen move
Prior to the game, the Brewers placed Joel Kuhnel on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement and called up Craig Yoho. Manager Pat Murphy did not sound particularly concerned about the severity of Kuhnel’s ailment.
“He’ll be fine,” Murphy said.
Brewers probable pitchers and schedule
Brewers at Diamondbacks, July 5, 3:05 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Brandon Sproat (3-4, 5.28) vs. Arizona LHP Eduardo Rodríguez (7-2, 2.21). TV – Peacock. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
