Rutledge makes first start of the season, Nationals beat the Brewers to end 5-game losing streak

Freddy Peralta Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta throws to first base during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, July 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Trey Lipscomb Washington Nationals' Trey Lipscomb hits an RBI double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, July 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Luis García Jr. Washington Nationals' Luis García Jr. scores on an RBI double hit by teammate Trey Lipscomb during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, July 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Jackson Rutledge Washington Nationals pitcher Jackson Rutledge throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, July 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Jacob Young Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young catches a fly ball during the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, July 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Jesse Winker Washington Nationals' Jesse Winker (6) is congratulated after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, July 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Lane Thomas Willy Adames Washington Nationals' Lane Thomas, right, is tagged out by Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames, left, during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, July 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
CJ Abrams Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams throws for an an out during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, July 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Kyle Finnegan Washington Nationals pitcher Kyle Finnegan throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, July 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Jesse Winker Washington Nationals' Jesse Winker, right, takes an at-bat during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, July 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
(1/10)

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 beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Friday night to end a five-game losing streak.

Rutledge, Washington’s first-round pick in 2019 whose only other appearance this season was one inning during a May 14 doubleheader, held Milwaukee to three hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings.

Robert Garcia (1-3) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the victory, and Kyle Finnegan struck out two in the ninth for his 24th save.

“It was outstanding,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said about Garcia. “He did a good job. His fastball was electric today. He pitched really, really well.”

The Nationals staked Rutledge to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Winker’s RBI double and added two more in the fourth before the Brewers got on the board with two in the bottom half.

Winker got one of those runs back in the fifth when he sent a 94.2 mph fastball from right-hander Freddy Peralta 403 feet to right-center.

“It’s great, especially on the road,” Winker said. “Jackson pitched well, all the guys that came in behind him did great and we made a bunch of great defensive plays. It was a really good win.”

Rutledge started four games last season for the Nationals, going 1-1.

Peralta (6-5) surrendered four of Washington’s five runs on 10 hits while striking out six over five innings.

“Freddy made a few mistakes but generally, I thought he threw the ball good,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.

The NL Central-leading Brewers have dropped two in a row and six of their last eight.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: LHP Jose A. Ferrer (teres major strain) will pitch in back-to-back games this weekend as he continues his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg. Martinez said the team will decide Ferrer’s next steps during the All-Star break.

Brewers: INF Joey Ortiz (neck) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and in the starting lineup Friday night. Ortiz had been sidelined since an 0-for-5 showing at Colorado on July 1. … LHP DL Hall (knee) is expected to rejoin the team in the next few days despite taking a comebacker off the forearm during his last minor league rehab start at Triple-A Nashville.

UP NEXT

LHP Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 4.61 ERA) was set 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.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up