In their first action of the Spring Training slate, the Brewers came out victorious over UW-Milwaukee, 11-2.
In total 27 Brewers saw time in the exhibition game, with each position player starter being replaced midway through the game and each pitcher taking an inning. Will Middlebrooks was the game's MVP, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI before being lifted for Josmil Pinto in the seventh. 21-year-old phenom Orlando Arcia, who started and hit second, also homered, his only hit of the afternoon.
Hiram Burgos surrendered both runs Milwaukee allowed in the second inning on a two-out single from Panthers shortstop Eric Solberg, a redshirt junior from Waukesha West. Solberg, who batted ninth, was the star for UWM, going 2-for-3 with the pair of RBI while helping turn three double plays.
It looked early on like the Brewers could be headed for the same embarrassment suffered by the Phillies two years ago after they lost to the University of Tampa in their Spring Training opener, with the Brewers heading into the bottom of the third trailing 2-1. If the Panthers were feeling any tinglings, Arcia and Middlebrooks put the boots to them, medium style, in great haste as the went as back-to-back as you can go with a pair of two-run homers to put Milwaukee in the lead for good.
What did we learn today? Not much. The Brewers walked eleven times, so they'll obviously be much better at plate discipline this year. Arcia is basically a lock for National League Rookie of the Year at this point given his performance today. And let's not forget Middlebrooks, who looks like he's headed for an MVP caliber season in 2016. Joey Bautista 2.0 anyone? But other than those minor things, not much was gleaned from this game.
Putting on a serious face for a moment, we did learn a couple things. Rymer Liriano started and played left, which could be nothing, or could mean that the Brewers don't see him as a potential answer in center field. Brett Phillips was scheduled to start the game but was scratched due to a sore oblique -- this could also mean nothing, or it could be a legitimate concern. In his absense, Alex Presley started and Shane Peterson relieved him.
Here's what you should take away: nothing. Nothing except the unbridled joy that is knowing that baseball is back.