Brewers: Gold Team Takes 1-0 Lead in Blue-Gold World Series

The Brewers held the first game of their Blue-Gold World Series on Tuesday with the Gold team coming out on top. Here are some observations from the night.

Brewers fans got one step closer to competitive baseball on Tuesday when Milwaukee began its Blue-Gold World Series of scrimmages. The series of games features the Blue Team, captained by Avisail Garcia, and the Gold Team, led by Omar Narvaez.

Prior to the scrimmage, the two captains drafted teams with Garcia surprisingly taking veteran slugger Ryan Braun with the first pick followed by Narvaez taking 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich. The two would end up swapping those picks as part of a four-person trade that would help balance the teams.

The first “game” of the series resulted in a 4-1 win for Narvaez’s Gold Team, giving them a 1-0 series lead. Here are some highlights from the night for the two teams.

Brewers dig the long ball

Recent Brewers teams often get associated with their affinity for relying on the home run and tonight was no different. All five runs in the game were scored via the home run on a night where the ball was carrying well.

For the Gold Team, all four of their runs were scored in the first inning, first on a two-run homer by Jedd Gyorko, then on a matching two-run bomb by Ben Gamel who continued his scorching hot Summer Camp by going 2 for 2 with a single, a homer, and a walk on the night.

For the Blue Team, Justin Smoak provided all the offense with a solo shot in the fourth inning on a ball that he didn’t even look to hit all that solidly. Smoak had strikeouts in his other two at bats.

Woodruff in regular season form

Many of the bigger offensive names on the Brewers, such as Yelich, Keston Hiura, and Smoak, among others, were playing for the Blue Team on Tuesday night. But apparently no one told that to Brandon Woodruff.

“Woody” had a strong night, going 4 1/3 innings and giving up four hits, an earned run on Smoak’s home run, and two walks while striking out six. He only faced two batters in the fifth inning before manager Craig Counsell ended the inning due to Woodruff reaching his predetermined pitch count.

Perhaps his most impressive feat of the night was the fact that he struck out Yelich in all three of the superstar’s at bats. Even one of the best players in the league couldn’t stop Woodruff from dealing that night.

Bullpen arms dominate

Woodruff set a solid example for pitching on the night which every reliever who appeared that game seemed to take to heart. Of the five relievers who appeared in the game, not a single one of them gave up a run.

J.P. Feyereisen, Bobby Wahl, Eric Yardley, and Drew Rasmussen each pitched an inning apiece for the Blue Team, while Brent Suter came in to close out the game while pitching an inning of his own for the Gold Team. The relievers combined to go five scoreless innings, giving up two hits and two walks to go with seven strikeouts.

Wahl and Rasmussen each had impressive outings, striking out two batters apiece while showing the high velocity on their fastballs that makes them intriguing late-game bullpen options. Meanwhile, Suter, who was working just as quickly between pitches as he usually does, had two strikeouts of his own.

The Blue-Gold World Series continues tomorrow with the Blue Team looking to pull even with the Gold Team. Check back with Reviewing the Brew for more reactions to the games!