Dodgers 11, Brewers 3: Fredonia's Miller brothers reunite, play against each other for first time

PHOENIX -- There was one heck of a feel-good story to come out of the Milwaukee Brewers' 11-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at American Family Fields on Saturday afternoon.

The reunion of the Brothers Miller -- Owen of the Brewers and Noah of the Dodgers.

And both hailing from Fredonia and Ozaukee High School.

The two appeared on the same field for the first time when Noah, 21, entered the game as a pinch-runner in the sixth inning. He then remained in the game at shortstop while Owen, 27, was playing first base.

"It was the first time time playing against each other, so it was pretty cool and a pretty exciting moment," said Noah, a first-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2021. "It's just a spring-training game, but hopefully someday we'll be able to do it in a regular-season game or the playoffs."

The Millers wouldn't have had a shot at their reunion if not for the Twins trading Noah, their 2021 first-round pick, on Monday. Minnesota's spring-training base is in Fort Myers, Fla., in the Grapefruit League.

Following the trade, Owen was able to pick Noah up from Sky Harbor Airport. What better way to kick off your tenure with a new team?

"Everything happened really quick," Owen said. "Our parents had it booked that they were coming to Arizona and Fort Myers after, then in a span of four days all of a sudden we're playing against each other in Arizona.

"It's unbelievable. It's pretty cool. Even though it's a spring-training game, I'll never forget that, talking to him before the game and him pinch-running at second. I would have liked to have seen him swing the bat (0 for 1, called out on strikes) but he'll get him next time."

Despite the busy nature of spring training, the brothers have been able to spend a little time together off the field.

"I took him to his first In-N-Out experience yesterday," said Owen, who went 1 for 4 with a run scored in the game.

"It was good. Very good," said Noah, who went big with two Double-Doubles, fries and a chocolate shake.

"He said Culver's is better," Owen responded.

"Culver's has got the chocolate shake, that's all I'm going to say," added Noah.

Gavin Lux, the Kenosha native, was also in the lineup for Los Angeles, adding even more local flavor to the game.

And twice last week, manager Pat Murphy was able to take part in the same game as his son, Kai, a minor-league outfielder for the San Diego Padres.

Three observations from Dodgers-Brewers

Aaron Ashby certainly didn't envision his first spring training appearance since 2022 going the way it did.

The left-hander had a nightmarish outing, recording only one out before needing to be removed. The inning began innocently enough, with an infield single and then an error that left a pair on.

But then came a wild pitch, walk, stolen base and after a strikeout, a booming three-run homer to left-center. The coup de grace came quickly thereafter, when Ashby unintentionally drilled Travis Swaggerty in the helmet and was pulled by Murphy.

"I'm not concerned. I'm just proud as hell of him. He's been through a lot," Murphy said of Ashby, who didn't pitch in the majors last season after shoulder surgery. "He didn't throw the ball great, no. But for the first time out there in how long?

"He's got to pitch. He's got to command the ball, you know? He's not throwing 98 yet, but that'll get back. He's got to command the baseball."

After Ryan Middendorf finished off Ashby's inning, Milwaukee's top pitching prospect, Jacob Misiorowski, took over and tossed an impressive eighth.

After issuing a leadoff walk, the right-hander struck out the next three batters -- looking, swinging and looking -- to cap his first-ever Cactus League appearance.

"It's great," Murphy said. "This kid's a little bit more than just a hard thrower. He's further along with the way he held runners and the way he controlled his off-speed. But, we've still got to be really careful."

Joey Wiemer's altered setup in the batter's box has helped produce some hard contact so far this spring but few results.

After going 1 for 3 Saturday, Wiemer's average sat at .143 (2 for 14) with no extra-base hits, two walks and six strikeouts.

"He's working on things," said Murphy. "He had some good at-bats today; the best ones I've seen. Again, it's early in spring training and we don't look at the results. It's pitch selection and the hard contact, and then knowing that they're working on things you're looking for good takes."

Quotable

"Everything hurts on him. Happens when you're 50," Murphy on left-hander Wade Miley, who's dealing with left shoulder soreness and is being brought along slowly this spring as a result.

Jackson Chourio watch

Chourio started in left field and batted fifth. He went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts to drop to 0 for his last 12 and was also caught stealing. Chourio is now batting .176.

Coming up

Brewers (2-6) at Diamondbacks, 2:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Freddy Peralta vs. Arizona LHP Eduardo Rodríguez. Radio -- AM-620.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dodgers 11, Brewers 3: Fredonia's Miller brothers square off