In the Brewers' latest spring training clash, Robert Gasser made a compelling case for a spot in the rotation. Despite a rocky start to his spring, with an ERA over nine, Gasser turned heads with a stellar performance against the Padres. Over six innings, he allowed just five hits and one walk while striking out seven, showcasing the kind of form Milwaukee hopes to see when the regular season kicks off.
The Brewers' offense came alive in the fourth inning. After a quiet start, Jackson Chourio singled, setting the stage for William Contreras to launch a homer to right-center. Jake Bauers followed with a towering blast that, while unmeasured due to technical glitches, seemed to clear 450 feet with ease.
Gasser, after a shaky first inning where he loaded the bases, found his rhythm and kept the Padres at bay. His ability to escape jams and control the game was pivotal, as he efficiently worked through his 79 pitches.
The Brewers extended their lead in the sixth when Chourio hit his first homer of the spring, a high fly over the left-field wall. This shot chased the Padres' Vásquez from the game and padded Milwaukee's lead to 4-0.
In the seventh, Milwaukee added more insurance. Joey Ortiz reached on catcher’s interference, and Brandon Lockridge got on base with what could have been an error.
Andrew Fischer capitalized with a double, driving in both runners. Fischer’s bat has been hot this spring, and his OPS now stands at an impressive 1.429.
On the mound, DL Hall continued to impress with a scoreless seventh, his ERA now a tidy 2.00. Hall's velocity touched 95.5 mph, a promising sign as he looks to regain his past form. Aaron Ashby faced some trouble in the eighth but managed to escape unscathed with a clutch strikeout.
The Padres managed to break the shutout in the ninth when Francisco Acuna hit a solo homer off Easton McGee. However, McGee quickly regained control, ending the game with a double play and a lineout.
Chourio, Contreras, and Bauers provided the power for Milwaukee, with Chourio and Contreras each collecting multiple hits. Bauers’ sixth homer of the spring slightly dipped his batting average to .471, but his power display remains a highlight.
Looking ahead, the Brewers have a busy schedule with games against the Cubs and Athletics, followed by final tune-ups at American Family Field. As the regular season approaches, performances like today’s are exactly what the Brewers need to build momentum and confidence.