Brewers beat Padres, Joey Ortiz hits first home in nearly 10 months
Joey Ortiz celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres on May 12. (Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE - Joey Ortiz homered for the first time in nearly 10 months and drove in two runs as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the San Diego Padres 6-4 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.
By the numbers:
Brandon Sproat (1-2) struck out six and allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings to pick up his first career victory.
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Ortiz, who entered Tuesday with a .181 batting average and .193 slugging percentage, broke a scoreless tie by delivering a 395-foot blast to left-center off Matt Waldron (1-2) in the third inning.
That marked the first time Ortiz had homered since July 19 of last season, when he hit a solo shot off Lou Trivino in an 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was Ortiz’s second extra-base hit of the season and came on his 95th plate appearance.
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FOX6 is bringing a 6-pack of fan questions to Brewers players all season long in 2026. Grant Anderson is next in the lineup and answers which teammates makes him laugh the most, how to make a good raccoon dinner, and which teammate he would name a dog after -- on this Bark at the Park night. #mlb #baseball #milwaukeebrewers
Ortiz nearly added a grand slam during Milwaukee’s five-run outburst in the fourth. His bases-loaded drive to center was caught at the warning track for a sacrifice fly
That fourth-inning rally put the Brewers ahead 6-2.
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San Diego’s Miguel Andjuar produced a solo shot in the sixth and hit an RBI double off the tip of center fielder Garrett Mitchell’s glove in the eighth to cut the lead to 6-4.
Abner Uribe worked around a one-out walk in the ninth to earn his fourth save in five opportunities.
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Sal Frelick’s bases-loaded single in the fourth brought home two runs and put the Brewers ahead for good at 3-2. When David Hamilton followed with a bunt, Waldron initially looked to third before throwing to first too late to retire the batter, loading the bases once more.
Ortiz’s sacrifice fly made it 4-2. Brice Turang hit a ground-ball double just inside the left-field line to drive in two more runs.
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Waldron allowed six runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings. Waldron entered after Bradgley Rodriguez pitched a scoreless first inning.
Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla wasn't with the team due to a family matter. The Padres are hoping Niebla returns for Thursday's series finale.
What's next:
Michael King (3-2, 2.76 ERA) was set to start for San Diego on Wednesday against and Jacob Misiorowski (3-2, 2.45).
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When the Milwaukee Brewers host the San Diego Padres at American Family Field on Tuesday, May 12, it is also "Bark at the Park" day, when baseball fans can bring their furry friends to enjoy the game.
The Source: The Associated Press provided this report.