The Milwaukee Brewers are officially the hottest team in the National League. Behind a long-awaited power surge from Joey Ortiz and a clinical multi-run rally, the Brewers extended their winning streak to five games with a 6-4 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at American Family Field.
Joey Ortiz Ends Long Home Run Drought
For Joey Ortiz, Tuesday night was about more than just a single win; it was a personal breakthrough. Entering the contest with a struggling .181 batting average and a meager .193 slugging percentage, Ortiz finally found the barrel in the third inning. He connected on a 395-foot solo blast to left-center field off Padres starter Matt Waldron, breaking a scoreless tie and marking his first home run in nearly 10 months.
The home run was Ortiz’s first since July 19 of last season, a span covering 95 plate appearances. It was a vital sign of life for the young infielder, who was a centerpiece of the trade that sent Corbin Burnes to Baltimore. Ortiz wasn’t finished after the home run, however. In the fourth inning, he nearly cleared the bases again with a deep drive to center that was caught at the warning track, resulting in a sacrifice fly that drove in Garrett Mitchell.
A Decisive Five-Run Fourth Inning
While Ortiz provided the early spark, the Milwaukee Brewers took full control of the game during a chaotic fourth inning. After the Padres briefly took a 2-1 lead on a two-run single by Nick Castellanos, Milwaukee responded with a relentless offensive barrage. The Brewers sent nine batters to the plate, scoring five runs to reclaim a lead they would never relinquish.
The rally was fueled by situational hitting and opportunistic baserunning. Sal Frelick delivered a clutch two-run single to left field, scoring William Contreras and Jake Bauers to put Milwaukee back on top. Following Ortiz’s sacrifice fly, Brice Turang capped off the inning with a sharp two-run double down the left-field line, scoring David Hamilton and Frelick. By the time the dust settled, the Brewers held a commanding 6-2 lead.
Brandon Sproat Earns Milestone First Career Victory
On the mound, the night belonged to rookie Brandon Sproat. The young right-hander showed poise against a dangerous Padres lineup, navigating 5 1/3 innings to earn his first career Major League victory. Sproat (1-2) finished his outing with six strikeouts, allowing three runs on a night where the Brewers' defense and run support gave him the cushion he needed.
The Milwaukee bullpen took over from there, effectively stifling the San Diego comeback attempt. Abner Uribe was called upon in the ninth inning to close the door. Despite walking one batter, Uribe remained composed, securing his save and ensuring the Brewers’ streak remained intact. The victory improved Milwaukee's season record to 22-16, keeping them firmly in the hunt for the NL Central lead.
Padres Fight Back Behind Miguel Andujar
The San Diego Padres did not go quietly, largely thanks to the efforts of Miguel Andujar. Andujar provided most of the Padres' late-game highlights, starting with a solo home run in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 6-3. He struck again in the eighth, lining an RBI double that just eluded the glove of center fielder Garrett Mitchell, bringing the score to 6-4.
Despite Andujar’s heroics and a solid effort from the San Diego bullpen, the Padres (24-16) were unable to overcome the damage done in the fourth inning. Matt Waldron took the loss, struggling to find his rhythm during the Brewers' big rally. The game also featured the return of Christian Yelich from the injured list; though he finished 0-for-4, he received a massive standing ovation from the Milwaukee faithful in his first plate appearance.
Looking Ahead
With five straight wins in the books, the Brewers will look to complete the series sweep against San Diego on Wednesday. For Milwaukee, the emergence of Joey Ortiz and the steady development of Brandon Sproat provide plenty of optimism as the team navigates the early summer stretch of the 2026 season.
Sources & Original Reporting
