The Milwaukee Brewers have been off to a hot start in 2023.
After finishing 86-76 last season and falling just one game short of the postseason, the team has been playing quite well.
They’re 9-4 to begin the season and are tied with the Atlanta Braves for the best record in the National League and second-best in all of baseball.
Even without Josh Hader, the bullpen has been quite good.
Milwaukee was visiting the San Diego Padres on Thursday night and turned to closer Devin Williams in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied at three.
All Williams did was strike out the side, fanning Juan Soto, Xander Bogaerts, and Nelson Cruz to send the game into extra innings.
Good morning, good afternoon, good night!
Devin Williams strikes out the side. 😤 pic.twitter.com/l6mvKDwRlV
— MLB (@MLB) April 14, 2023
Milwaukee took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 10th on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Rowdy Tellez.
Things got a little dicey in the bottom half, but Joel Payamps nailed down the save.
Williams earned the win.
The young right-hander displayed tremendous velocity against the Padres on Thursday, striking out Soto and Bogaerts on 95 and 94 mph fastballs, respectively.
The win for the Brewers also knocked the Padres down to the .500 mark.
Despite losing Hader, the Brewers are fortunate to have Williams at the back end of their bullpen.
He managed to get through one of the tougher parts of a powerful San Diego lineup and send the game into extras.
The Brewers now have the defending NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals sitting at four games back of first place.
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