Brewers top the Padres, 8-5

The Milwaukee Brewers continue to perform well in Cactus League play, beating the San Diego Padres 8-5 this afternoon. Drew Rasmussen got the start on the mound, and he looked good. Over two innings, he struck out three and had to get one extra out as Corey Ray had a fly ball pop off his glove for an error in the second inning. Still Rasmussen pitched around the error to pitch two scoreless.

Milwaukee was the first to score in the second inning. With Mark Mathias on third base, Mark Melancon threw one in the dirt that got past Padres’ catcher Aaron Nova. Mathias scored, and the Brewers were up 1-0.

In the top of the fourth, the Brewers put a few more runs on the board. Former Cubs’ prospect Pierce Johnson issued a two-out walk to Billy McKinney. Derek Fisher followed with a single to center. Pablo Reyes brought everyone home as he launched a 3-run homer.

Brent Suter and Justin Topa looked quite good as well. Topa in particular continues to show well in Spring Training.

Angel Perdomo pitched around a little wildness and demonstrated some of his potential as well.

The strong pitching ended for Milwaukee in the sixth. Eric Yardley took the ball and was shaky. Yardley did not have strong command, and the Padres hitters took advantage. Jake Cronenworth and Jorge Mateo both doubled in the inning, and C.J. Abrams came up with a single. By the end of the sixth inning, the score was 4-2.

Milwaukee got a run back in the top of the seventh. Derek Fisher led the inning off with a double. Fisher was lifted for pinch runner Garrett Mitchell. Mitchell would come around to score on a double by Nick Kahle.

The Padres tied things up in the bottom of the seventh. Webster Rivas singled off Zach Brown. Brown followed that up with a walk to Robert Hassell. Gosuke Kathoh brought everyone home with a 3-run homer.

The future of the Brewers brought home the win in the top of the eighth inning. Padres pitcher James Reeves issued a walk to Jaime Westbrook and hit Tristen Lutz with a pitch. Westbrook would come around to score on a single by Brewers top prospect Garrett Mitchell.

Reyes would work a walk to load the bases. Reeves would continue to be wild as he threw a wild pitch that scored Lutz. Mitchell scored the eighth and final run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Nick Kahle. Miguel Sanchez finished things off by pitching a 1-2-3 eighth, and the Brewers took it, 8-5.

The Brewers are at it again tomorrow afternoon. This time the opponent will be Cleveland. Adrian Houser is scheduled to take the ball for the Brew Crew, while Cleveland sends Aaron Civale to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 CT at American Family Fields of Phoenix.