Brewers Spring Training Games 1-4: By the Numbers

As Thursday’s doubleheader came around, the Brewers began to play other MLB teams doing a split squad. While the Brewers’ young players like Arcia, Santana, and Jungmann showed some highlights in Game 1 against UWM in an 11-2 victory, it’s good to see the Crew have a big swing or test their arms against other professionals.

First, against the Cubs, the Brewers had their first viewing of Chase Anderson, who was acquired in the Jean Segura deal in a low scoring 2-1 victory. He pitched 2 innings giving up 1 H, 0 ER, and 2 Ks earning the W. The 31-year old Junior Guerra earned the S giving up 1 H, a BB, with 1 K. 

Lucroy and 2B Colin Walsh added on the RBIs, both being singles. Nottingham was the DH for the day and had the most hits with 2, notching up two doubles for the Crew.

In Game 2 of the double header against the San Francisco Giants, it was much more of the opposite with each team throwing runs on the board. Although, the Brewers still took the W, winning 8-7. Zach Davies was the starter going 1 inning, giving up 0 ER. But, Ariel Pena had the roughest outing of the relief pitchers, giving up 3 ERs, 2 Hs, 3 BBs, and 1 HR. But, 23-year old Adrian Houser, who was acquired in the Gomez trade, took the W with 0 ER, 3 Hs, and 1 K. Cravy earned the save for Crew.

In the hitting department, there were plenty of highlights as Reed, Peterson, and Carter had 2 RBIs each. Carter had the only HR for the Crew with a 2-run HR to right center. Each starter had a hit as they totaled 14 overall and made the Giants fight to make it a game being up 6-0 after two innings.

On Friday, the Brewers notched up their 3^rd win against the Mariners playing at Maryvale Baseball Park. Familiar pitchers Peralta, Capuano, and Thornburg each went two innings giving up 0 ER.

Unfamiliar names to many Brewer fans were in the lineup and grabbed the RBIs including Cecchini, Young Jr, and Perez, who each had an RBI. 1^st baseman, Andy Wilkins, had one at-bat and made the Mariners pay with a line drive 2-run HR.

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And finally, in today’s game against the A’s, the Brewers started out much the same with solid pitching to start as Jimmy Nelson went two innings, giving up 0 ER and Will Smith came in simply throwing three pitches, three strikes, getting 3 outs.

The Brewers seemed to keep their winning streak going with Walsh’s groundout RBI in the top of the 2nd and then Liriano’s RBI double in the top of the 4th putting the Brewers up 2-0. But, Billy Butler’s 2-RBI single made it an even game in the bottom of the 4^th.

The A’s added on four more off reliever Michael Blazek in the bottom of the 5th to stretch the game out a bit and make even Spring Training realistic for Brewers fans as they went up 6-2.

At the top of the 8th, the Brewers started to make a comeback being down an extra run at 7-2. First, Wilkins hit a long ball to right field to get the game closer at 7-5, and then Alex Presley hit a solo shot to right field to make it a one-run game at 7-6.

But, before reality set in too soon Yadiel Rivera hit a 2-run home run to put the Brewers up 8-7 in the top of the 9th. Hiram Burgos hoped to wrap things up in the 9th stretching it out for his 2nd inning pitching, but Josh Phegley for the A’s hit a home run to left center field for the ball game to end it up in an 8-8 tie.

Although it’s Spring Training, Brewers fans can be encouraged by the starting pitchers and some of the unknown names knocking in the runs. But, if anything, fans now know there’s no such thing as extra innings in a Spring Training game, and we can, at least, say the Brewers have yet to have a loss this year being 3-0-1.