Arcia, Middlebrooks homer in 11-2 Brewers win over UW-Milwaukee
PHOENIX -- Orlando Arcia and Will Middlebrooks hit two-run homers for the Milwaukee Brewers in a 11-2 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Arcia, the top minor league prospect for the Brewers, is scheduled to begin the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs. He hit his one-out homer to deep left center off Panthers pitcher Austin Schulfer.
"I went out there looking for one pitch (a fastball) and I got that pitch and hit the home run," the 21-year-old Arcia said through a translator.
Arcia played a few spring games with the Brewers last year and "those games helped me a lot. They give me more confidence to go out there and play a little bit more relaxed."
Middlebrooks, a non-roster invitee to spring training, homered to left two batters later. Middlebrooks also had an RBI single in the first inning as he competes with veteran Aaron Hill and Garin Cecchini for playing time at third base.
"Both guys are great players," Middlebrooks said. "Aaron, obviously I've seen the back of his baseball card, he's a consistent player and has been for 12-13 years in his career."
"I'm still trying to approach this as I'm trying to win the job. Whether it's third base, a utility guy, to make the team and be able to impact and try to win games," he said.
STARTING TIME
Brewers: Expected to be the No. 2 starter for the Brewers, Taylor Jungmann struck out two of the four batters he faced in his one inning, allowing a single to junior Billy Quirke.
"He threw the ball really well," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "One of the points for Taylor this spring is to take it as a spring of preparation. Use your offspeed pitches, get comfortable with them and trust them. He started right in with that today."
THAT'S BETTER
This is the second year in a row the Brewers opened their spring with a game against UMW, the only Division I baseball program in the state.
Last year, the Panthers managed one hit against Milwaukee pitching. This time they had six hits, including two hits and two RBIs from junior shortstop Eric Solberg. His second inning single gave this team a brief 2-1 lead.
"I'm standing on first base, looking at the scoreboard saying, `We're beating the Brewers!'" Solberg said. "Last year, we got the one hit and struck out like 20 times. This year we're hitting the ball all over the place. We improved, or something. It was a good day."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers center fielder Brett Phillips was a late scratch from the lineup with left oblique soreness.
"It just tightened up throwing. I don't want to turn something that's really small into something bigger than it needs to be," he said. "I was bummed out when they said, `We'll just take you out for today.' But spring isn't the ultimate goal, so no going out there and trying to be a hero. Just get it under control now so it doesn't affect me during the season."
UP NEXT
Brewers: Former Diamondbacks pitcher Chase Anderson makes his Brewers debut against the Chicago Cubs in Maryvale. Right-hander Zach Davies will start in Scottsdale when a Brewers split squad plays the San Francisco Giants.
