The Brewers dropped their second straight spring game Wednesday afternoon, dropping back below .500 at 8-9. The Reds attacked early, scoring four runs off starter Robert Gasser in the 6-3 win.
After Sal Frelick started the day striking out at the hands of Andrew Abbott, Andrew Vaughn walked, and Gary Sánchez followed with a two-run homer to make it 2-0 quickly. The Brewers were able to get another pair of runners in the form of singles by Luis Rengifo and David Hamilton, but Abbott struck
out two more to get out of the inning without further damage.
Gasser also started his day with a strikeout, but Matt McLain followed with his fifth homer of the spring to cut the lead in half. Tyler Stephenson doubled but was stranded there as Milwaukee led 2-1 after an inning.
In the second, Milwaukee’s youngsters Luis Lara and Jesús Made both singled, but Lara was picked off at second, and Frelick grounded into a double play to end the threat.
Noelvi Marte led off the second with another homer off Gasser, and two batters later, Jose Trevino added to the home run party to make it 3-2.
After a scoreless third, the Reds tacked on two more in the bottom of the inning, as Gasser gave up a single before striking out the next two. Jesús Broca replaced him and promptly allowed a walk and a two-run double to extend Cincinnati’s lead to 5-2 after three.
Both teams traded scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth, including a caught stealing at home by the Brewers’ defense — the Reds tried to execute a double steal from first and third, but Milwaukee cut McLain down between third and home.
The Brewers tacked on a third run via a Reese McGuire homer in the sixth, his first of the spring. Lara was then hit by a pitch but proceeded to be picked off for the second time on the basepaths.
The Reds added one more run on a pair of singles and a double in the eighth, bringing this one to a 6-3 final.
It wasn’t a great day for the Crew, but there were a few bright spots. Sánchez went 2-for-3 with a homer, and McGuire added a homer of his own. Eight Brewers totaled nine hits on the day, and they also added five walks.
On the mound, Gasser struggled through 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Jared Koenig, Trevor Megill, Grant Anderson, and Craig Yoho combined to hold Cincinnati to no runs from the fourth through the seventh, with Megill and Yoho each striking out a pair.
The Brewers are back in action tomorrow as they have their first night game of the spring. They’ll visit the Cleveland Guardians, with first pitch set for 8:05 p.m. CT.
