Giants 7, Brewers 6: Over-capacity crowd takes in Cactus League game in Phoenix
PHOENIX – Playing in front of a jam-packed crowd at American Family Fields of Phoenix for the ballpark’s first night game since 2020, the Milwaukee Brewers fell, 7-4, to the San Francisco Giants.
The game lacked crispness as well as, to a large degree, command from the pitchers. The two teams combined for 15 walks, three errors and two wild pitches.
The Brewers had won five in a row in Cactus League play coming in and did see 8,878 come through the turnstiles – by far the highest attendance for a home spring training game this year.
Three observations from Brewers-Giants
Robert Gasser looked crisp through two innings, hitting 94 mph with his four-seam fastball and up to 90 mph with the cutter, before running into command issues.
Gasser walked three in the third on his way to giving up three runs in the inning, though he got no help from a check-swing double to right.
Gasser then allowed a three-run home run to Marco Luciano in the fourth after runners reached via walk and infield single.
It was a rough showing for Gasser, who has had a great camp but was reassigned to the minors earlier this week. Still, expect him to factor into the big-league pitching equation early in the season.
The Brewers’ top relief arms seem to be rounding into form. Joel Payamps and Elvis Peguero each threw a scoreless inning, with Payamps striking out three and Peguero not allowing a hit.
Payamps had a rough start to spring but has thrown scoreless outings each of his last two times out. Peguero, meanwhile, has struck out five over three innings this week.
Sal Frelick, meanwhile, continues to get minimal chances during game action at third base. He got the start at third again Thursday night but got just one ball hit his way, which he handled for an unassisted putout at third.
Frelick has played 55 innings at third this spring, which is just two behind Oliver Dunn for most on the team.
More: Why you should expect 'TBA' to get a lot of starts this year for the Milwaukee Brewers
Jackson Chourio watch
Chourio got the start in right field once again and went 0 for 1 with a pair of walks, a stolen base and run scored.
Chourio said Thursday afternoon he expected to play right field primarily coming out of the gates when the regular season begins. Chourio has spent 63 innings in center this spring as opposed to just 28 in right, but his struggles in center have prompted manager Pat Murphy to upgrade Garrett Mitchell to lead duties at the position.
Coming up
Brewers (split squad) vs. Royals, 3:10 p.m. Friday. Milwaukee RHP Jakob Junis vs. Kansas City LHP Cole Ragans. Broadcast: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin; Radio – 620-AM
Brewers (split squad) at Mariners, 3:10 p.m. Friday. Milwaukee RHP Freddy Peralta vs. Seattle TBA. Broadcast: None.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giants beat Brewers, 7-6, with huge spring training crowd in Phoenix
