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WP: Ernesto Frieri (1-0); LP: Evan Marshall (0-1); Save: Erik Davis (1); Home runs: Cleveland, Francisco Mejia (1); Milwaukee: Jacob Nottingham (1)
Jacob Nottingham’s seventh inning homer provided just enough insurance for the Milwaukee Brewers (4-1) to hold off the Cleveland Indians’ split squad (1-2-1) this afternoon in Maryvale. The lead changed hands three times in the ballgame, with the Brewers taking the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth when Johnny Davis’ sacrifice fly plated Keon Broxton to give the Brewers a 6-5 lead.
The Indians staged a rally in the top of the ninth against “closer for a day” Erik Davis. After a strikeout to begin the inning, Davis issued two walks and a ground rule double to Yu-Cheng Chang, bringing the Indians within one at 7-6. With one out, Willi Castro grounded out to first baseman Jesus Aguilar. Chang was chased down and tagged out at third by Mauricio Dubon before Nellie Rodriguez could score, and that’s how the game ended.
The “easy play” wouldn’t have been as exciting, Rock. pic.twitter.com/sJoyr3YSiR
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 26, 2018
The win went to Ernesto Frieri, who allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the sixth while striking out the side. Starter Junior Guerra gave up three hits and a walk, and one run, in his two inning stint. Prospect Jon Perrin redeemed himself from a nightmarish first appearance last Friday with a scoreless seventh, walking one and whiffing three (one of which reached base on a dropped third strike). Lefty reliever Tyler Webb allowed a two run homer in the top of the fifth to almost-Brewer Francisco Mejia (who was included in the non-trade between the two clubs for Jonathan Lucroy).
Nottingham’s dinger was the only extra base hit for Milwaukee, and Aguilar had the only multi-hit game for the Brewers with two singles. Ryan Braun had a hit and a walk in his two plate appearances, starting for the first time in left field. Hernan Perez had a two run single in the Brewers’ three run third.
The win keeps the Brewers a half game ahead of the Kansas City Royals. The Royals are undefeated but have only played two games.
Chase Anderson will go for the Brewers in tomorrow’s match-up versus Cincinnati, again in Maryvale. The Reds (1-2-1) are coming off of a 2-2 tie with the Indian’s split squad today.