Milwaukee Brewers fans erupted with joy as Caleb Durbin delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning, securing a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals. The win on Saturday at American Family Field marked the sixth consecutive victory for the Brewers. However, the day was especially significant as it marked the return of starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff to the Milwaukee mound after being sidelined for nearly two years.

Woodruff, a two-time All-Star, last pitched in the majors on September 23, 2023, before undergoing shoulder surgery. His road to recovery was fraught with challenges, including tendonitis in his right ankle and a liner off his right elbow during his rehab assignment. But on Saturday, he finally made his highly anticipated return.

The homecoming was met with standing ovations from the 35,015 fans in attendance. Woodruff delivered a strong performance, pitching six innings, allowing one run on two hits, and striking out eight batters. He threw 70 pitches, 53 for strikes, showcasing his excellent command. The only blemish on his outing was a solo home run by Nationals left fielder Daylen Lile in the second inning.

"No one could have expected six innings, two-hit ball or whatever it was," manager Pat Murphy said. "He was sensational. Any worries anybody had about this guy being able to pitch or his future or whatever, he was right on it. Location, stuff, everything... I couldn't be happier for him and his family, what it means for the future. It's special".

Despite Woodruff's strong performance, the Brewers found themselves trailing in the later innings. Rookie Brady House hit his first two career home runs for the Nationals, including a two-run shot in the eighth inning that put Washington ahead 4-3. CJ Abrams added a sacrifice fly in the ninth to extend the lead to 5-3.

However, the Brewers mounted a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Jackson Chourio led off with a single against Kyle Finnegan. Christian Yelich followed with a walk, and Andrew Vaughn delivered a clutch two-run double to tie the game at 5-5. Andruw Monasterio, pinch-running for Yelich, advanced to third on a groundout. The Nationals intentionally walked Brice Turang, and then Durbin sliced a single down the right-field line to drive in Monasterio for the winning run. Grant Anderson earned the win, pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

Durbin's heroics capped off an emotional and exciting day for the Brewers and their fans. Woodruff's successful return after a long injury layoff provided a major boost to the team and the comeback victory underscored the Brewers' resilience and determination.