A day after Brewer bats were silenced in a shutout loss to the A’s, Milwaukee responded back in emphatic fashion, winning 10-6 over the South Siders of Chicago. In another example of just how 
little results themselves mean this was hardly the Brewers opening day lineup, but it also goes to show that players on the outside looking in and those with established spots on this roster still treat the game with meaning and respect when they are out there.
On a day when only three likely opening day starters were in the field to open up the game not much was to be expected of the Brewers going against former ace Jake Peavy, but it was those starters that did the damage early on. Leading the hit parade was shortstop Alex Gonzalez who knocked a 1st inning double off of Jake Peavy to plate the games first two runs.
The Brewers got to Peavy (0-1) in the form of 4 hits and 3 runs over his 2 innings of work. He responded by striking out 2 Milwaukee batters.
Peavy gave up the third run in huge fashion as Norichika Aoki smashed a triple that plated 2nd baseman Eric Farris to put the Brewers up 3-0 at that point and gave the Japanese outfielder his 1st RBI of the Spring.
It was just a harbinger of things to come for the Brewers though as they tacked on yet another run in the 3rd inning, making it 4-0, before exploding for a four run 4th inning to really put this one out of reach at 8-0.
Marco Estrada (1-0) started for the Brewers and got the win. He went 2 scoreless innings, giving up 3 hits and striking out just one. Backing him up was a pairing out of the bullpen most teams fear as John Axford took a scoreless 3rd and Kameron Loe took a scoreless 4th.
With the 8-0 lead the Brewers threw Michael Fiers out for the 5th inning and the shutout was lost as he gave up 3 runs on 4 hits in his lone inning of work.
But the Brewers weren’t about to let it get too close as they answered back with 2 more runs in the top of the 6th to extend the lead to 10-3 and put the game pretty much out of reach.
In the inning first baseman Travis Ishikawa reached on an attempted double play that couldn’t get him and Taylor Green walked following Ishikawa stealing 2nd. Edwin Maysonette, who’s having a good start to Spring Training (.400 BA, 2RBI’s in just 5 At Bats), cleared the bases ahead of him with a 2RBI double with 2 outs but couldn’t be hit home as Brock Kjeldgaard flied out to end the inning.
For the 2nd straight day the Brewers threw out one of their top pitching prospects as 2011 1st rounder Taylor Jungmann saw 2 late innings of work and was impressive as he went 2 scoreless and gave up 1 unearned run thanks to a missed double play attempt in the 8th and struck out 1 White Sox batter.
Tomorrow sees the Brewers return back to Maryvale Baseball Park as they take on fellow NL Central foes in the Cincinnati Reds. Scheduled to start for the 1st time this spring, but making his 2nd appearance, will be Zack Greinke. He should have some of the important parts of his defense behind him as Braun, Gamel, and Ramirez should be returning to the lineup after off days today.
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