Milwaukee Brewers Triumphant in Spring Opener

It has been 157 days since the Milwaukee Brewers finished out their disappointing 2014 season with a loss to the Chicago Cubs last September, but the time has finally come for a new season to start begin for our beloved local nine. The Brewers kicked off their Spring Training schedule with an exhibition game versus the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers, Wisconsin’s only D-I baseball team, meaning that we will have a baseball game to talk about almost every day for at least the next seven months or so. How great is that?

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The Brewers defeated the Panthers handily, 8-0. though both teams were hitless through three innings. Khris Davis opened the scoring in the fourth with a two run single, and the Brewers never looked back as they added on two runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Catcher Juan Centeno and NRI utilityman Elian Herrera each had two RBI, with Matt Long and Adam Weisenberger adding one apiece. UWM managed only one hit off Brewers’ pitching, with Derek “Pistol” Peake (a high school classmate of mine at Catholic Memorial) scorching a single of Taylor Jungmann in the fourth and subsequently stealing a base.

Mike Fiers started the game for the Brewers, pitching two perfect innings and striking out the side in the second. Jungmann got the win, striking out five while giving up the lone hit in two innings. Jim Henderson made his spring debut for the Brewers as well, his first game action since last May. Henderson pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two and walking one, though the walk was wiped out with a caught stealing. Henderson is attempting to return from a season mostly lost to injury after he underwent surgery last summer.

The player of the game should probably go to Joe Pavlovich, a pitcher for UWM. He threw a scoreless second inning, striking out Adam Lind, Davis, and Gerardo Parra in succession. Even if Pavlovich never ends up playing professionally, he at least has a neat story to be able to tell his grandchildren one day.

Box Score

Up Next:

The Brewers face off against the Angels tomorrow in Tempe, with first pitch at 2:05 PM CST. The game will be broadcast on the Brewers flagship radio station in Milwaukee. Kyle Lohse will get the start for the Brewers, with lefty Hector Santiago getting the call for the Angels. It will be interesting to see if both Brewers lefty starters in Adam Lind and Scooter Gennett get the start for the Brewers, and where they could slot in the lineup.

Brewers’ Spring Record: 1-0
Streak: W1