Another day, another Spring Training game on the schedule for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Time to go to work. #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/3pUDuc8pep
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 27, 2017
The Cactus Crew head a half hour to the northwest to take on a Texas Rangers split squad in Surprise, Ariz., at 1:05 MT.
Milwaukee will head into Monday’s tilt looking for their first win against a Major League opponent, having dropped a pair of games over the weekend to the two squads from the City of Angels.
The Brewers began the Cactus League portion of their schedule Saturday afternoon in Tempe, where they traveled to take on the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Past Sox pitchers Brent Suter, Taylor Jungmann and Michael Blazek all threw a scoreless inning apiece, while Carlos Torres struck out a team-high four batters in his two innings of work. The Halos’ pitching staff stymied the Brew Crew offense, however, and the Angel offense scored single runs in the third and seventh innings to take the 2-0 victory.
RECAP: Carlos Torres fires 4 Ks in 2 innings in today’s #CactusCrew action: https://t.co/lMosBsk9kp pic.twitter.com/vUwGwjb1ZU
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 25, 2017
On Sunday, Milwaukee hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers in Maryvale in an afternoon game featured on MLB Network. The bats came alive at home, as the Brewers came from behind after giving up seven combined runs in the third and fourth innings to take a one-run lead in the sixth inning. The Dodgers rallied one more time, scoring one run in the seventh and two in the eighth to pull out a 10-8 win on the road.
Brett Phillips did provide this highlight, though.
.@Brewers’ @Brett_Phillips8 graced us with a nomination for #SpringTraining Slide of the Year: https://t.co/7PahTidf6q pic.twitter.com/UI5cFG2y3B
— Cut4 (@Cut4) February 27, 2017
Ryan Cordell, an outfield prospect who came over as part of the Jonathan Lucroy deal with Texas, led the offense with two hits and four RBIs, including a two-run home run in the third inning to put the Brewers on the board. Keon Broxton, Hernan Perez and Scooter Gennett tallied a RBI apiece to wrap up the offense.
RECAP: Ryan Cordell homers, drives in 4 as the #Brewers fall to the Dodgers, 10-8. https://t.co/NR9JOwcy6f #CactusCrew pic.twitter.com/EbxGMRlh6S
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 27, 2017
—
Brewers 5, Rangers 0
Today’s lineup against the @Rangers in Surprise. First pitch 2:05pm CT. Webcast on https://t.co/4DI0F6ETck. #CactusCrew ⚾🌵☀️ pic.twitter.com/IAQLcyOBKP
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 27, 2017
Led by shutdown pitching and a three-hit outing from former Rangers prospect Lewis Brinson, Milwaukee picked up its first win of the Cactus League schedule Monday afternoon, defeating Texas 4-0 in Surprise, Ariz.
Junior Guerra, Josh Hader, Corey Knebel, Jhan Marinez (1-0) and Nick Ramirez each threw a scoreless inning, while Tyler Cravy and Stephen Kohlscheen tossed two scoreless frames apiece to lead the bullpen.
After allowing 10 runs on 14 hits to the Dodgers Sunday, the Brew Crew (1-2) stymied the Rangers (1-2) offense, surrendering a trio of hits in the shutout.
.@juni1685 strikes out a pair in a scoreless inning in his 2017 debut for the #CactusCrew. @jhader17 is now on for the #Brewers! pic.twitter.com/OFprNUK6gp
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 27, 2017
A few days after his two-homer game against Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Brinson broke open the pitcher’s duel with a single to left field, scoring Andrew Susac. The No. 1 Brewers prospect had three hits against the team that traded him on August 1.
Two batters later, Travis Shaw added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Ivan DeJesus, Jr., and doubling the lead to 2-0.
.@LewisBrinson caps an 8-pitch at bat with an RBI single to give the #CactusCrew a 1-0 lead in the 5th! #Brewers pic.twitter.com/eYVaoPfLy8
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 27, 2017
The Brewers tacked on another pair of runs in the sixth inning. Orlando Arcia hit a one-out double to start the rally, and then eventually scored on a pair of Jose LeClerc wild pitches to increase the lead to 3-0. Three batters later after a pair of walks, Jesus Aguilar lined a two-out single, scoring Susac and padding the margin to four.
.@andrewsusac scores his 2nd run of the day on a single by @JAguilarCLE! The #CactusCrew is now up 4-0 in the 6th. #Brewers pic.twitter.com/TJX1yHqlRZ
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 27, 2017
Milwaukee wrapped up the scoring in the ninth inning. With two outs, 2016 2nd-round draft pick Lucas Erceg reached on a single to right fielder Jairo Beras, whose error allowed Ryan Cordell to score from first base.
The Brewers return to their Arizona home in West Phoenix Tuesday for a 1:05 MT tilt against the Kansas City Royals. Zach Davies gets the start for the first time in 2017, facing Danny Duffy at Maryvale Baseball Park.
(Featured photo by @brewers)