Brewers 9, Royals 1: Offense comes alive in final game of spring at Maryvale

WP: Yovani Gallardo (1-2)
LP: Luis Mendoza (2-1)

HR: Alex Gonzalez (2), Hainley Statia (1), Xavier Nady (1)

Box Score

The Brewers are ready to come home and start the 2013 season.

The projected Opening Day starting lineup had no problems with putting up some numbers today. Seven of the nine starters recorded a hit, with only Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez not recording one in the game (though Weeks did have an RBI sacrifice fly). Norichika Aoki led the offense with three hits, and Alex Gonzalez and Jean Segura recorded two-hit days. Hainley Statia also made his presence known, replacing Weeks in the fifth and collecting two hits, one of which was a two-run home run. The offense made it a rough day for Royals starter Luis Mendoza, who allowed six runs (four earned) on ten hits and one walk.

The revival in the offense has been a welcome relief. The Brewers offense had averaged only 3.33 runs per game in their first 24 spring games. In the last four, they have scored 26 runs (an average of 6.5 runs per game). It also came against a Royals team that had allowed the fewest runs in the Cactus league so far this spring.

In his final start before Opening Day, Yovani Gallardo showed that he was ready. Over 6 1/3 innings, he allowed a total of one run, two hits, and three walks. One of the two hits was a solo home run that accounted for the only run he allowed. Gallardo also struck out two batters on the day. He finishes the spring with a 3.54 ERA.

In the bullpen, Mike Gonzalez came out first and allowed a hit in 0.2 innings of work. Tom Gorzelanny had a clean inning of work in the eighth. Brandon Kintzler allowed two hits in 0.1 innings, and Alfredo Figaro finished out the day with 0.2 clean innings.

The Brewers have one more game in Arizona before returning to Milwaukee and Miller Park. They will face the Rockies at Salt River Fields tomorrow at 3:10 pm.