The Brewers and Athletics both entered Tuesday’s game seeking their first Cactus League win but it was the Brewers who were able to get it in very convincing fashion.
Tyler Black was the star of the show today, getting things started by following a single from Blake Perkins with a two run homer down the right field line in the 2nd inning.
Black then plated three more Brewers in the third inning by ripping a bases loaded, two out single to right-center. That’s right, a three run single. The count was full so the runners were off with the pitch and they just didn’t stop. Quickly, Black was 2-for-2 with 5 RBIs
That’s a great day already, but Black wasn’t done. When he came up again in the 5th inning, Black ripped a 2-0 fastball from Scott Barlow to right for a double to score Akil Baddoo. Black was 3-for-3 with 6 RBIs and finished a triple shy of the cycle. It’s only a spring training game, but for a player like Tyler Black who dealt with a hamate injury last year and faces a tough roster picture, it’s the kind of game he needs to get back on the Crew’s radar.
The Brewers finished with 10 runs but very easily could have had more if it wasn’t for the weird stadium design at Hohokam in Mesa. For whatever reason, the batter’s eye in centerfield is in play. The yellow line runs to the top of it so you have to hit it over for a home run to dead center. In the 5th, David Hamilton crushed a ball 425 feet to center, but it hit high off the batter’s eye and went for a double. Then in the 7th, Akil Baddoo hit one 434 feet to center and it still hit off the top of the batter’s eye and went for only a double. Two hits that went 425+ feet and no home runs to show for it.
Also, in the 9th inning, after the line change, #2 prospect Luis Pena ripped a double to left off the bat at 103.4 MPH. The Brewers added two runs in that 9th inning.
On the pitching side, it was domination from a laundry list of pitchers, starting with Rob Zastryzny and followed by Angel Zerpa, Sammy Peralta, and Coleman Crow from the 40 man roster. Crow was especially impressive, spinning 3,300 RPM curveballs with 20 inches of horizontal break. He also showcased a 3,000 RPM cutter with 21 inches of run.
Everyone covered one inning and they scattered five hits in the shutout. After Crow was Blake Holub, Will Childers, Mark Manfredi, Jack Seppings, and Miles Langhorne.
The now 1-4 Cactus Crew will look to make it two wins in a row tomorrow when they take on the San Francisco Giants at American Family Fields of Phoenix. That game will be available on the Brewers Radio Network.