MILWAUKEE — Brandon Woodruff pitched four-hit ball into the sixth inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 on Friday night for their sixth straight win.
Willy Adames hit a solo homer for Milwaukee, and rookie Garrett Mitchell collected two more hits. Christian Yelich had a run-scoring groundout.
Woodruff (1-0) struck out four and walked two in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander improved to 9-1 in his last 20 starts dating to last season.
“I thought he was excellent tonight,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s tough to get any better than he’s doing. His stuff was really, really good.”
Milwaukee has three shutouts in its last four games. It has outscored its opponents 42-12 during its win streak.
“That’s a really, really tough lineup,” Woodruff said. “Those are some of the best hitters in the big leagues.”
PHOTOS: Woodruff stars as Brewers beat Flaherty, Cardinals 4-0
After Woodruff departed, five Milwaukee relievers combined for 3 2/3 innings of one-hit ball. Matt Bush got three outs before Bryse Wilson retired the side in order in the ninth.
“They’re all throwing the ball well,” Counsell said.
St. Louis right-hander Jack Flaherty (1-1) allowed two runs and four hits in five innings. He walked six and struck out three in his 100th big league start.
“I’m still walking too many guys,” said Flaherty, who walked a career-high seven last weekend in a 4-1 win over Toronto. “I feel good. The walks are weird. I’ll figure it out.”
Milwaukee jumped in front with two runs in the third. Rowdy Tellez drove in Yelich with a sacrifice fly, and Mitchell added an RBI single.
The Brewers had a chance for more, but Brice Turang bounced to third with the bases loaded.
Adames connected in the seventh, making it 4-0 with a drive to right-center against Jordan Hicks. It was Adames’ first homer of the season.
“We had some opportunities to drive some guys in, but we didn’t do it,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said.
Tyler O’Neill played center field for St. Louis in his first start since he was criticized by Marmol for his baserunning. O’Neill went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.
Marmol took issue with O’Neill’s turn around third as he attempted to score from second on a liner to right during the seventh inning of Tuesday night’s 4-1 loss to Atlanta. O’Neill contended he was hustling on the play.
“He’s back in the lineup,” Marmol said before the loss. “I think he’s our best chance to win today.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (groin) threw a full 30-pitch bullpen session and could throw another one Sunday. … OF Lars Nootbaar, on the 10-day injured list with a left thumb contusion, is going to do his hitting progression with the club next week. … LHP Packy Naughton faced three batters in eighth before departing with forearm tightness. He is going to be checked out.
Brewers: Woodruff said he felt tired and told Counsell that in the dugout before starting the sixth. … LHP Aaron Ashby underwent arthroscopic surgery on the labrum in his left shoulder. He opened the season on the injured list. There is no timetable for his return. … OF Tyrone Taylor, on the 10-day injured list retroactive to March 27 with a right elbow strain, suffered a slight setback and is resting before resuming baseball activities in three to four days.
CONTRERAS BROTHERS MEET AGAIN
Brothers Willson and William Contreras, two All-Star catchers, squared off for the second time in the majors. Willson Contreras signed with St. Louis in free agency, and William Contreras was acquired by Milwaukee in a December trade.
WALKER STAYS HOT
Cardinals rookie Jordan Walker went 1 for 4. He has at least one hit in each of his first seven big league games.
UP NEXT
Jordan Montgomery (1-0, 5.40 ERA) pitches for St. Louis on Saturday against Eric Lauer (1-0, 3.38 ERA) in a matchup of left-handers.
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