It has been a long time since we’ve seen a start from Shane McClanahan. Since August 2, 2023, in fact. But the former All-Star has dealt with bad hand after bad hand in terms of injury, and his path back to the majors hasn’t been an easy one. Tonight, all eyes were on the mound as McClanahan made his triumphant return to the bump, and everyone wanted to see if he still had the same goods he once did. Meanwhile, much has been made of the Brewers’ offseat efforts to bolster their rotation, potentially at the hindrance of other positions (Gary Sanchez taking reps at first? What is this, Moneyball?) It would be an interesting outing to test McClanahan’s mettle. The Brewers, meanwhile, had Brandon Woodruff, who was reliable and efficient in 12 games for the Brewers last year after also missing the enitre 2024 season due to injury.
The Rays wasted little time getting on the board, as Jonathan Aranda hit a one-out home run.
The ABS system then turned around and bit the Rays a little as catcher William Contreras challenged a call and it was overturned, ultimately resulting in Junior Caminero striking out. The Rays would need to settle for the one run as they turned things over to McClanahan and his big moment. Shane didn’t miss a beat, looking like he’d never left his role as an All-Star starter, someone the Rays believed in enough to let him debut in the postseason. He took the Brewers out in order in the home half.
In the top of the second the Rays went 1-2-3. Heading into the bottom of the inning, McClanahan had his first wobble, giving up a one-out walk to Gary Sanchez. He got right back in the swing of it, though, getting the next two outs to end the inning.
Heading into the top of the third, Chandler Simpson challenged a strike call and lost, but then singled to get on base anyway. With one out, Simpson stole second, but two outs followed to leave the baserunner stranded. Nice to see Simpson already in midseason form with the basepath hustle, though. Bottom of the third and the Brewers once again went three-up, three-down.
After nearly putting two Brewers players into the dugout chasing down a high pop-up in foul territory, Caminero hit a single to kick off the fourth. RIP Junior Caminero’s bat. Alas, three outs then followed, once again leaving a baserunner stranded. Thankfully, McClanahan continued to show excellent command in the bottom of the fourth, getting through the Brewers in order.
Nick Fortes decided to lend his starting pitcher a hand in the top of the fifth with a leadoff home run to put the Rays up 2-0. Three outs followed, but we love a man who recognizes the necessity of insurance runs.
In the bottom of the fourth, Gary Sanchez took a leadoff walk, his second walk of the night. With one out, Brandon Lockridge singled, and from that point, McClanahan kind of lost his mojo. Joey Ortiz walked, and then Brice Turang singled. Gary Sanchez got home, but Turang had been caught in a rundown and there was some contention over whether or not Turang actually got tagged out at second. After a review, it was ruled that Turang was safe at second keeping the inning going and probably taking three years off Kevin Cash’s life. The Rays all had to return to the field because everyone had assumed it was an out. The safe call also meant that a run across home by Ortiz after the tagout was now a scoring run, putting the Brewers in the lead. McClanahan’s night was also done. His final line was 4 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER (Ortiz was counted as an error to Cedric Mullins), 3 BB, 4 K on 79 innings. Not how you’d like to see a really solid start from McClanahan end, but overall there was plenty to like from his return. Cole Sulser came out of the pen to get the final out of the inning.
Woodruff’s night was also done after five innings, as Jared Koenig came out of the Brewers’ pen. Jake Fraley got a two-out single, but the Rays couldn’t capitalize on the baserunner once again. Things just got worse in the bottom of the inning as Gary “Still Not a Good First Base Choice” Sanchez hit a solo home run to center to extend the Brewers’ lead to 4-2. Jake Bauers then singled, and stole second. Lockridge hit a long double to score Bauers. Sal Frelick singled to put runners on the corners. Sulser did finally manage to get out of the inning but the Brewers were up 5-2.
Grant Anderson was in next for the Brewers in the seventh. With two outs, Simpson legged out a strong triple, but it wasn’t enough to give the Rays the edge, as a strikeout then ended the inning. In the home half, Yoendrys Gómez came in and gave up a leadoff walk to Turang. Turang then stole second. Gomez got two outs then intentionally walked Christian Yelich. Despite an attempt from the Brewers to challenge a stike call, the call on the field was upheld to strike out a pinch-hitting Garrett Mitchell and end the inning. No additional damage done despite having two runners aboard.
Abner Uribe came in for the Brewers in the top of the eighth. He gave up a two-out walk to Caminero. Fraley then singled to put runners on the corners. The Rays brought in Richie Palacios to pinch-hit, and he pinch flied-out instead. Things didn’t get much better in the home half when Jake Bauers hit a leadoff home run. Three outs followed, but the damage was really done by that point.
Angel Zerpa was the next Brewers pitcher up in the ninth, hoping to finish things off. He got the first two outs, but a pinch-hitting Ryan Vilade got a walk. It wasn’t enough for the Rays to stage a comeback, though, and the final out came around to end the inning.
