It’s been a very good Spring for the Brewers starters, but it hasn’t been perfect and Yovani Gallardo proved that today as the Kansas City Royals roughed up the Milwaukee ace for 4 runs on their way to a 9-7 victory at Maryvale Baseball Park. The likely opening day starter went 5 innings, gave up 6 hits, 1 walk, and 4 runs. However, Gallardo also struck out 6 Royals in just his 2nd loss this Spring.
Bruce Chen navigated the Brewers lineup pretty well in his 6 innings of work, giving up 7 hits that produced just 3 runs. He also struck out 6 and got the win for Kansas City.
Now for the highlights and lowlights:
– We’ll start with another pitching lowlight and that was courtesy of Mike McClendon who pitched 2 innings and gave up 4 runs on just 3 hits. He also did give up 2 walks.
– All told the Brewers pitching staff today gave up 5 home runs to the Royals (2 – Gallarado & McClendon, 1 Veras)
– Mat Gamel added to his hit parade as he knocked his 4th home run of the Spring to open the Brewers scoring in the bottom of the 5th inning. His 4 home runs lead the Brewers this spring.
– The Brewers scored 6 of their 7 runs in the final three innings. 2 came in the 7th as Alex Gonzalez hit a 2 run home run. 3 more runs came in the bottom of the 8th as Logan Schafer scored on a force out at 2nd that nearly was a double play, Edwin Masoynet scored Taylor Green on a single and on a series of Royals wild pitches Martin Maldonado scored the final run of the inning. Finally the Brewers got their final run across as Brooks Conrad scored on a ball hit towards short that allowed him to score.
– Ryan Braun got another hit and went 1-3, but also had a strike out.
– Cesar Izturis was a spark off the bench, going 2-for-2 and allowed the late rally to keep going for Milwaukee.
– Jonathan Lucroy was back in the lineup after signing a long term contract last night and continued his ridiculous hitting this Spring by going 2-for-3 with a run scored. His average is now a robust .486 for the Spring.
Milwaukee only has four Spring Training games left and they’ll take on the Arizona Diamondbacks tomorrow at 3:05 Central. Knowing the history of these two teams we should be in for a good game as it seems not to matter the time, place, or meaning between the Brewers and Dbacks.
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