Rutledge leads Nationals over Brewers in first start of season

MILWAUKEE -- Jackson Rutledge faced a unique challenge on Friday, when the Nationals recalled him from Triple-A Rochester for a spot start. Not only was he facing the NL Central-leading Brewers, but he was up against Milwaukee ace Freddy Peralta.

Rutledge (Washington’s No. 15 prospect) turned in a solid performance, paving the way for the Nationals in their 5-2 win over the Brewers. The 25-year-old allowed two runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings, with two walks and six strikeouts.

“I was just relaxed and trusted in the game plan,” Rutledge said. “I haven't pitched very well in Triple-A, to be honest. Getting a call here, it’s just answered prayers for the opportunity. I just said, ‘I'm gonna go out and just have fun, enjoy it and just do what I know I can do.’

“I felt like I just pitched really relaxed and loose and was having a good time.”

The Nationals’ offense backed Rutledge with a 12-hit night, including 10 knocks against Peralta. Former Brewer Jesse Winker finished 2-for-4 with a double and home run against Peralta.

Friday marked Rutledge’s second promotion to the Majors this season -- he served as the 27th man in the Nationals’ doubleheader against the White Sox on May 14 and was then returned to Rochester.

He started Friday after DJ Herz was optioned to Rochester on Monday. The start in the series opener marked his first start in the Majors since Oct. 1 last season.

The right-hander has made 16 starts in Triple-A this season, posting a 6.66 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP in 71 2/3 innings. The key for Rutledge entering Friday’s outing was simple.

“He’s just got to get ahead of hitters and limit the walks,” Martinez said pregame. “The walks hurt. He's got to just get ahead of hitters, use both his four-seam and his two-seam and his slider. But just really focus on getting ahead.”

Rutledge threw first-pitch strikes to 11 of the 20 hitters he faced. Of his 89 pitches, he threw 35 sinkers (two-seamer), 19 cutters, nine four-seamers, four splitters, 19 sliders and three curveballs, according to Statcast.

He faced just one batter over the minimum in the first three innings, as he surrendered a one-out single to Sal Frelick in the second. The Brewers broke through for a pair of runs in the fourth, when Rutledge issued a leadoff walk to William Contreras. Willy Adames and Sal Frelick then each hit RBI doubles.

Rutledge issued a two-out walk to Brice Turang in the fifth, but he appeared to escape trouble when he got Contreras to hit a grounder to shortstop CJ Abrams. The ball got under Abrams’ glove and between his legs for an error. Martinez went to the bullpen, calling on lefty Robert Garcia -- who escaped a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout of Adames.

The Nationals’ bullpen kept the Brewers off the scoreboard over the final 4 1/3 innings after Rutledge’s solid performance. Most importantly is what the outing could mean for Rutledge in the long run.

“I think today's a really important day for me to just realize that I'm going to be given [opportunities], and it’s my job to be prepared for that,” Rutledge said. “I don't need to fix my entire Triple-A ERA in one inning or in one pitch. It’s just a gradual [process], one step at a time. It takes one game to start a streak, so that's kind of the attitude going out.”

Winker slashed .199/.320/.247 in 61 games in an injury-plagued 2023 season with the Brewers while dealing with a back issue. He received a smattering of boos in the top of the first inning, before he hit an RBI double.

Winker added a solo homer in the fifth -- which prompted louder boos from Milwaukee fans.

“I was here last year, and I didn’t play well,” Winker said when asked of his emotions Friday. “As a fan of the team, you have every right to react. … I didn’t do my job as a Brewer last year. There’s so many people over there that I have great relationships with and have a ton of respect for.”

Winker has been an important piece for a young Nationals lineup in 2024. He’s slashing .264/.378/.438 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs in 92 games -- the most games of any Washington position player.

“He’s been doing really well the whole first half,” Martinez said of Winker. “He comes to play every day. He gives you good at-bats. He’ll take his walks. He’s fun to watch when he’s hitting.”