Arcia’s single lifts Brewers over Padres 2-1 in 12 innings
SAN DIEGO (AP) — JiMan Choi says being with the Milwaukee Brewers reminds him of a fun day at an amusement park.
The Brewers enjoyed a wild ride on opening day, beating the San Diego Padres 2-1 in 12 innings on Thursday.
Reliever Jeremy Jeffress emphatically pumped his fists several times after getting Chase Headley to hit into a bases-loaded double play in the 11th, and then Orlando Arcia singled in Choi with two outs in the 12th inning.
“We’re locked. We’re ready to go,” a still-excited Jeffress said afterward.
“We have players here who can help us out in huge ways. We’re staying locked, staying prepared.”
Arcia’s hit came off sidearmer Adam Cimber (0-1), who was making his big league debut. After getting Manny Pina to hit into a double play, Cimber allowed Choi’s pinch-hit double before Arcia’s goahead RBI.
Choi was the only non-roster invitee to make the team out of spring training. His stay might be short because the Brewers need to add newly signed Dan Jennings to the 25-man roster.
Choi said through a translator that bench coach Pat Murphy gave him a pep talk before the game.
“That uplifted me and gave me the confidence, and even when I came in to pinch-hit I had that confidence to do well,” he said.
The game’s biggest moment may have been when Jeffress got Headley to ground into a 5-2-3 double play on a splitter to the end the 11th.
“Oh man, I was so pumped. Just excited, man,” Jeffress said. “That’s the drive and the confidence we need out of everybody, especially in the pen. Just get that confidence, man, knowing that nobody can beat us.”
Jeffress (1-0) pitched two innings for the win. Jacob Barnes struck out the side in the 12th for the save.
The Brewers were one out away from winning 1-0 on a four-hitter when Freddy Galvis, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia, singled to right off Corey Knebel, a first-time AllStar last year, to bring in Carlos Asuaje and send it into extra innings. Asuaje singled with one out and stole second with two outs.
Milwaukee’s Chase Anderson allowed one hit in six innings in his first opening day start. He had six strikeouts and three walks.
The right-hander also singled to center off Clayton Richard with two outs in the third, advanced on Lorenzo Cain’s single to left and scored on Christian Yelich’s single to left. A late, awkward slide left the pitcher shaken up momentarily, but he stayed in the game.
Richard, making his first opening day start at age 34, went seven innings, allowing one run and six hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
“Chase pitched well,” said Padres manager Andy Green, who dropped to 0-3 on opening day. “There was no consistent pattern to come to and he kept you honest enough inside so you couldn’t hang out over the plate, so you’ve got to tip your hat a little bit but we’ll have much better at-bats than that going forward.”