Rogers endures rough start in loss to Rangers
Brewers righty gives up six runs (three earned), walks four in short outing
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Alexi Ogando, continuing to overcome a slow start to the spring, pitched four scoreless innings in a 12-3 victory over the Brewers at Surprise Stadium on Tuesday. Ogando beat Brewers starter Mark Rogers, who continues to struggle to win a spot in the rotation.
Ogando allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out three. He has allowed just one earned run in his last nine innings, lowering his Cactus League ERA to 3.48, while opponents are hitting .250 off him.
"I've been working on getting better command of my fastball and slider," Ogando said. "That's what I tried to do today on the mound and I thought it was working."
Rogers gave up two runs in the first inning and four in the second, though three of the runs he was charged with were unearned. He allowed three hits and walked four before leaving with one out in the second. He has a 7.50 ERA and he has walked 10 in 6 1/3 innings.
Jeff Baker, who started at third base for the Rangers, went 2-for-2 with a homer a walk and two RBIs, giving him a seven-game hitting streak and a .529 spring batting average. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski drove in two runs with a pair of sacrifice flies.
Kyle McClellan made his first appearance for the Rangers in a Cactus League game and pitched two scoreless innings, walking just one. Tom Gorzelanny, who signed a two-year deal with the Brewers in the offseason, allowed two runs in his two innings.
Sean Halton got Milwaukee on the board in the ninth with a three-run double to make it 12-3.
Up next: The Brewers will get to sleep in Wednesday before their first night game of the spring, a 9:10 CT affair against the D-backs in Scottsdale. Yovani Gallardo will start for Milwaukee, making his first appearance since a solid outing against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic ensured he's moved past the groin injury that briefly called his status into question. Gallardo is working toward his fourth consecutive Opening Day start.
Positional regulars Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez and Alex Gonzalez should all be back in Milwaukee's lineup for some at-bats under the lights. The game will be televised on FS Wisconsin and MLB.TV and aired on brewers.com as a free exclusive audio webcast.