Center fielder Garrett Mitchell drove in five runs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of a split doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium. Starter Chad Patrick pitched five scoreless innings, while the Royals mounted a late rally but fell short. The win improved Milwaukee's record to 6-1.
KANSAS CITY -- The Brewers received an unusual boost Saturday morning when a pet tortoise named Bobby Jr. arrived at their clubhouse, setting a lighthearted tone before the game. Mitchell capitalized on the energy with a two-run double in the first inning and a three-run homer in the third against Royals starter Luinder Avila, who allowed five runs in three-plus innings. This gave Milwaukee a 5-0 lead early on and showcased Mitchell's hot start after an injury-plagued 2025 season. He doubled his RBI total from the first five games in one afternoon, as he told reporters afterward: “Just trying to put together some quality at-bats, and I found some holes. You love extra-base hits and homers, but that’s not what I was trying to do today. Just trying to pass it on to the next guy. I was happy to see [the double and homer] get down.” Brewers manager Pat Murphy praised the front office's faith in Mitchell: “The front office was adamant this guy could be our best player in a lot of ways.” Chad Patrick earned the win with five scoreless innings despite command issues, lowering his ERA to 0.96. He said, “I was grinding. Couldn’t really find the zone and I was always down in the count today. But I competed and made pitches when I had to.” The Brewers' defense shone in the second, nailing a double-steal attempt with throws from catcher William Contreras and second baseman Brice Turang. Royals reliever Daniel Lynch IV made a highlight play in the fifth, tagging out Sal Frelick on the knee while falling after a misplayed grounder. Royals manager Matt Quatraro called it “a heck of a play,” and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. noted Lynch's “long, lengthy limbs.” Kansas City scored twice in the seventh off Aaron Ashby and threatened late, but Milwaukee's bullpen held firm, dropping the Royals to 3-4.
