Brewers rally to defeat Reds 6-4

Box Score

Comebacks have been a common occurrence in recent weeks. The Brewers had to put together another today.

Zach Davies’ struggles in the first inning continued to start this game. He started with a fly out to Scooter Gennett. After that, he walked Joey Votto, then two straight singles to Matt Kemp and Eugenio Suarez. Yasiel Puig then put the Reds on the board with a sac fly. That was followed by another single from Jose Peraza, staking the Reds to an early 3-0 lead.

The Reds got another run in the second inning, allowing a single to Jose Siri, then being driven in on a single from Votto, which was misplayed by Eric Thames. Davies settled down after that, retiring ten of the next eleven batters to finish up the day. He finished the day with four runs allowed on six hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Brewers started chipping back into that in the third inning. Tyler Saladino led off with a single, and Lucas Erceg singled to follow, moving Saladino to third base. Zach Davies then came up and hit into a double play, but it allowed Saladino to score and put the Brewers on the board at 4-1.

In the fourth inning, Jesus Aguilar walked with one out, then Yasmani Grandal singled to put runners at first and second with one out. After a pitching change following a forceout at third on a ground ball from Orlando Arcia, Cory Spangenberg hit a single to score Grandal, cutting the Reds lead to 4-2.

In the sixth, Aguilar recorded a one-out walk again, then Nate Orf came in to pinch run. Orf stole second as Grandal struck out. Arcia then came up and hit a triple to right, scoring Orf and making it a 4-3 game. Spangenberg followed with a double, tying the game at 4-4.

Then, in the seventh inning, Lucas Erceg put the Brewers ahead. He led off the inning with a solo home run, putting the Brewers ahead 5-4. It didn’t stop there, as Corey Ray followed with a double, and then stole third. Nate Orf then hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Ray to make it a 6-4 game.

On the pitching side, the bullpen ensured that the Reds would stay off the board the rest of the way. Alec Kenilvort came on in relief of Davies, retiring two batters and recording a strikeout. Jay Jackson came in for the seventh inning, pitching a perfect inning and striking out the side. Deolis Guerra took the eighth and also had a perfect inning, putting up one strikeout. Nate Griep finished it out in the ninth, working around a walk to record the save.

Cory Spangenberg and Lucas Erceg led the team with two hits a piece, with Spangenberg driving in two and Erceg driving in one. Eric Thames, Yasmani Grandal, Orlando Arcia, and Tyler Saladino each also had a hit in the game.

Two days remain in Arizona, and it’s the last Split Squad Saturday of the Spring tomorrow. One squad will travel to face the Rangers, and another will stay at home to face the Royals. The Rangers game will begin at 2:05 pm and the Royals game will begin at 3:05 pm. The game against the Royals will be on TV and on the radio.