In a rollercoaster of a game, the Milwaukee Brewers pulled off a thrilling 13-12 walk-off victory over the San Francisco Giants, despite some shaky moments on the mound. Brice Turang was the hero of the day, launching two homers, including a grand slam, to power the Brewers to their second consecutive win.
The game kicked off with Carlos Rodriguez setting the tone by retiring the Giants in order. Turang wasted no time, crushing a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the first to give the Brewers an early lead. However, the Giants quickly answered back when Luis Matos sent a Rodriguez cutter into the stands, tying the game at one.
Garrett Mitchell showed patience at the plate, working a walk after falling behind 0-2, and Brandon Lockridge followed with a double. But the Brewers couldn't capitalize, as Jackson Chourio grounded out to end the inning.
Rodriguez's day ended after two innings, and Peter Strzelecki took over, but not without challenges. Bryce Eldridge connected on a high fastball for the Giants' second homer, putting them ahead.
The fourth inning was a tough one for Milwaukee, as prospect Garrett Stallings struggled, allowing five runs. A Harrison Bader home run and a Jung Hoo Lee triple stretched the Giants' lead to 8-1, leaving the Brewers in a deep hole.
Yet, the Brewers showed resilience. Giants pitcher Carson Whisenhunt faltered, walking the first three batters he faced.
Joey Ortiz capitalized with a bases-loaded single, and after another walk, Giants manager Tony Vitello brought in Tristan Beck. Chourio worked an impressive 11-pitch walk, setting the stage for Turang's grand slam, tying the game at eight.
Turang's power display was impressive, with exit velocities of 106.5 mph and 108.2 mph on his homers, showcasing his emerging strength. Jesús Made, Milwaukee’s top prospect, made an immediate impact with a triple and later scored on a William Contreras home run, putting the Brewers ahead 9-8.
Milwaukee's bullpen, featuring prospects Tyson Hardin, Brett Wichrowski, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Manuel Rodriguez, kept the Giants scoreless for the next four innings. However, the ninth inning saw some drama. Edwin Jimenez struggled, and after a costly error by Brock Wilken, the Giants took a 12-10 lead.
But the Brewers weren't done. Matthew Wood ignited the comeback with a double, and Eddys Leonard's bloop single brought in a run.
Josh Adamczewski's single set the stage for Luis Lara, who grounded into a force-out. Freddy Zamora then tied the game with a single, and Greg Jones sealed the victory with a sacrifice fly, scoring Lara for the walk-off win.
Turang's standout performance, going 2-for-3 with two homers and five RBIs, was the highlight, but there were plenty of positives for Brewers fans. Made's perfect day at the plate and Adamczewski's clutch hit in the ninth showed the depth of talent in Milwaukee's system.
Ortiz continued his strong spring with a bases-loaded single, and Chourio's patience at the plate was notable. The future is indeed bright for the Brewers.