The time has finally come, Sky Sox Nation.
February 24, 2017. It’s Friday. It’s the end of the work week. It’s time for some Milwaukee Brewers baseball!
Friday marks the first game of the 2017 Spring Training Schedule for the Brew Crew. The Maryvale Baseball Park marks the site. 1 p.m. MT marks the time. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has flown down from the Badger State as the first opponent.
It’s baseball time in Arizona!
The @MKEPanthers are in town and we’re finally ready to play a baseball game today! #CactusCrew pic.twitter.com/qE5IH9xefp
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 24, 2017
Here is today’s starting lineup for the Brewers against the UWM Panthers. Sky Sox fans should recognize some familiar names.
The Panthers managed one hit in their 8-0 loss in 2015. Last year, Burgos took the mound in the second inning, as the Panthers took a brief 2-1 lead before the Brewers regained the lead en route to an 11-2 thumping. Taylor Jungmann, Damien Magnifico, Jaye Chapman, Jim Miller and Austin Ross also took the mound in last year’s exhibition.
Today’s lineup between #CactusCrew and @MKE_Baseball in Maryvale. ⚾🌵☀️ pic.twitter.com/cqm9ArO1q2
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 24, 2017
.@Burgos196 is on the hill and it’s time to #PlayBall! (Gosh it feels good to type that.) #CactusCrew pic.twitter.com/b3Fvlydpuw
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 24, 2017
Ah, this is the life. #CactusCrew pic.twitter.com/XyQ35qfI01
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 24, 2017
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FINAL: Brewers 11, UWM 0
No. 1 prospect Lewis Brinson clubbed two home runs and the Brewers pitching staff combined for one hit as the Cactus Crew opened its exhibition calendar with a convincing 11-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday afternoon at Maryvale Baseball Park.
Playing in his first Spring Training game with Milwaukee, Brinson opened the scoring for the Brewers with a solo home run to the left field berm in the third inning for the first long ball of the 2017 exhibition season.
If you guessed @LewisBrinson for the first #Brewers player to hit a HR this spring, you’re right! #CactusCrew on top 1-0 in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/mBLtsSdQn5
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 24, 2017
The outfielder that spent the final month of the 2016 season in Colorado Springs added to his offensive output one inning later, cranking a three-run home run to centerfield to increase the lead to 4-0.
One batter later, left fielder Scooter Gennett increased the home run total to three, hitting a solo shot to right field to give the Brewers back-to-back home runs and a 5-0 lead.
Make that 2 for Lew! 💪💪 @LewisBrinson goes deep again in the 4th. #CactusCrew pic.twitter.com/buu2G4DGBK
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 24, 2017
.@Sgennett2 joins the HR party & through 4, the #CactusCrew leads 5-0. pic.twitter.com/k7jPd3piVO
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 24, 2017
The home run party continued three batters later, as new Brewers signee Jesus Aguilar crushed the second three-run home run of the game to increase the lead to eight. Former Sox shortstop Orlando Arcia reached on a fielding error three batters later to tack on another run and wrap up the eight-run fourth inning.
Milwaukee added to its lead in the sixth inning, as catching prospect Dustin Houle doubled to right field, driving in Garrett Cooper and Nate Orf to give the Brewers double-digit runs.
2016 Sky Sox starter Hiram Burgos earned the start for the Brewers and tossed a pair of scoreless innings. The Puerto Rican right-hander struck out the leadoff man in the top of the second inning en route to retiring all six Panthers faced during his 2017 debut.
The Brewers bullpen combined for seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball, led by 2016 Sox pitchers Corey Knebel (1-0), Tyler Cravy, David Goforth, Forrest Snow.
The Brewers open its Cactus League schedule Saturday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. MT, when they take on the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Brent Suter gets the start for Milwaukee, facing LAA’s Deolis Guerra. Coverage of the game can be found on Fox Sports Wisconsin, Brewers.com, and @Brewers.
And that’s the ball game! The #CactusCrew belts 4 HRs (including 2 from @LewisBrinson) en route to an 11-0 victory over @UWM. pic.twitter.com/pEPQv5Cg3G
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 24, 2017
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 24, 2017