Brewers fall 6-2 to Indians

WP: Corey Kluber (1-0); LP: Jhoulys Chacin (1-1); Save: none; Home runs: Cle - Jason Kipnis (5); Eric Stamets (1); Mil - none

Box Score

The Cleveland Indians jumped to a two run lead in the top of the first today in Maryvale, and the Milwaukee Brewers could never catch up as they fall 6-2. Jhoulys Chacin started for the Brewers and worked into the third (2.2 innings). One of the Indians’ runs was unearned due to a throwing error by first baseman Ryan Braun, and both scored on a two run homer by Jason Kipnis off of Chacin. Kipnis is red-hot this spring with five homers and a batting average of .571. His OPS is 2.214.

Yovani Gallardo was also stretched out a bit, working into a third inning. He was hit hard in that third inning, though, and ended up with four hits and three earned runs allowed. He walked three. Josh Hader had a perfect eighth with a strikeout while Matt Albers was even more perfect in the ninth, striking out the side. Corey Knebel allowed a solo home run to Eric Stamets in his one inning.

Milwaukee went with a mostly starters lineup, and the new top of the order combo of Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain provided four of the Brewers eleven hits. Yelich doubled twice and scored both runs, driven in by a Domingo Santana single in the first and a Cain double in the fifth. Jett Bandy had the only other extra base hit for the Crew with a double, and his one for three day leaves him at a .649 OPS as he seeks to impress while Stephen Vogt is out of action with a strained shoulder.

The Cubs lost today to fall to 6-2, while the Brewers and Indians sit at 7-3. The Royals moved to 7-2 with a win in today’s action. We have a tight race for the Cup shaping up!

The Brewers have a rare off day tomorrow (good thing - there’s snow in the forecast! Oh wait...). Tuesday the Milwaukee Nine is on the road against the young White Sox.