Spring Training 2013: February 25th (Game 4)

The Padres face the Brewers with the rights to sudsy beverages as the victor's prize. Would the evil conglomerate empire or the valiant microbreweries prevail in this beer fight?

Your kung-fu is week, Fuzzles.

Not bear fight, beer fight! Oh thank Xenu, the jump is here.

San Diego beats Milwaukee handily, 7-1 (le box score). With spring training being more expansive than years past, we're still at the point where individual and team success don't mean a whole lot, but over-analyze we shall!

Rundown:

• 2B Gyorko had another successful day at the plate (1-3, HR), but perhaps even more impressive was his work in the field: a diving stop (no out recorded, as Volquez didn't cover first), an almost double play, and finally, an actual double play. 
• Speaking of, Volquez had an eventful two innings:  4 K's, 2 1B, BB, WP. Classic Volquez! Electric Edinson will have one more start with the Padres before joining the Dominican Republic for the World Baseball Classic.
• 1B/LF Blanks has been impressive in early action: 2-3 (1B, 2B, BB). He could challenge for a spot on the 25-man, health permitting.
• Robbie Erlin and Daniel Stange got their first action of the spring. Their lines, respectively: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K; 1.0 IP 1 H, 1 K.
• Erlin, a possible option for the fifth spot in the rotation, was able to record three straight outs in both the third and fourth inning after allowing the first man in each inning to reach base. The three straight retired in the third inning: Braun, Weeks, Maldonado.
• Lefty Layne was able to work out of a jam: with runs brewing on every base, Layne was able to strikeout the next batter and induce a grounder to 3B Edinson Rincon to quench the Milwaukee's rally.
• The pitching on the whole was marvelous: 9 IP, 7 H (all singles!), 3 BB, 10 K, 1 R.
• C Eddy Rodriguez brought us back to his first MLB PA with a home run in two plate appearances. He also threw out a base runner.
• SS Jeudy Valdez reached base in both of his plate appearances (2B, BB) and added a SB, though he did commit an error in the seventh. Valdez, recently DFA'd by the organization, is continuing his strong showing from the Arizona Fall League.
• LF/RF Mark Kotsay showed these young-ins how it's done, reaching base in 3 PAs (2 1B, BB).
• LF Carlos Quentin has yet to debut in ST, as the club wants to make sure he's healthy come Opening Day. Look for Blanks, 3B/LF James Darnell, UTIL Logan Forsythe, LF Jaff Decker to play until that moment comes.
• CF Cameron Maybin will continue resting a balky wrist; RF/CF Will Venable and UTIL Alexi Amarista will fill-in during his absence.

The Padres will face the Reds tomorrow in Peoria at 12:05 PM PST. XX1090 will not be carrying games until the March 3rd (also the first FSSD broadcast), but MLB.TV may be carrying a free radio broadcast (a valid MLB.com account is necessary to log-in). 

In the present sexy reader, spring has sorta sprung and I'll let the sweet serenade of Scott Stapp sustain us.