CAMP REPORT
On the field: Minor-leaguer Chad Spanberger homered for the second straight day, and minor-leaguer Alexander Palma drew a bases-loaded, walk-off walk to help a split-squad Brewers team down the Angels, 2-1, at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
Tuffy Gosewisch got the rally started in the ninth with a leadoff double. Brandon Woodruff issued a walk in a scoreless first inning that caught the right-hander by surprise when he hit 98 mph with his first pitch.
“I wasn’t sure where my velo was going to be for the first outing. Then I look back at the first pitch and it’s 98,” Woodruff said. “I was like, ‘I may need to tone it down just a hair.’ “
Other pitchers who stood out were big lefty Angel Perdomo, who struck out a pair in an inning of work, and righty Luke Barker, who struck out the side in the ninth to earn the victory.
“I thought all the guys threw strikes. That was the big thing,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Really efficient pitch counts. So, it was a really good first day for all those guys.”
Orlando Arcia, who must show this season he still deserves to be the starting shortstop, had a big day at the plate in the other game, a 14-4 romp over Oakland, with a two-run, opposite-field home run and booming two-run, ground-rule double to right-center. Lucas Erceg also homered in that game and singled.
Corbin Burnes and Shelby Miller looked sharp in scoreless innings, and firstround draft pick Ethan Small also tossed a hitless frame. Drew Rasmussen, a sixth-round pick in 2018 who has recovered from two Tommy John surgeries, pitched a hitless inning with a fastball that topped out at 99 mph. Weather: Sunny, 66 degrees.
Scoreboard: Brewers (ss) 2, Angels 1 (ss); Brewers (ss) 14, Athletics 4. Record: 2-1. Tuesday: Brewers vs. Mariners, 2:05 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Freddy Peralta vs. Seattle RHP Kendall Graveman. Radio: AM-620.
Cactus juice: Third-base coach Ed Sedar was able to avoid serious injury in the ninth inning when minor-leaguer Max McDowell smoked him in the lower back with a foul ball.
“That’s part of spring training. Everybody’s getting ready,” joked Counsell. “It was one of those ones that’s following you. He’s trying to get out of the way and he’s actually going right into it.”
Countdown: 30 days until the Brewers’ season opener on March 26 vs. the Chicago Cubs at Miller Park.