Peralta makes a strong second impression

PHOENIX -- The A's scored their second walk-off win of the spring on Tuesday when Luke Montz hit a two-run home run to beat the Brewers, 6-4, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Brewers pitching prospect Johnny Hellweg inherited a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning and lost it quickly. He had Bruce Maxwell in an 0-and-2 count before Maxwell smacked a breaking ball for a double to the right-center-field gap. Max Muncy followed with an Arizona single that chopped over the second baseman and tied the game. Montz, a 30-year-old catcher and first baseman, won the game by hitting a fastball over the fence in left field.

"I wasn't going to let him bunt there, that's for sure," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

The A's lost their other split-squad game on Tuesday, 6-4 to the Cubs, and are 5-2-1 in the Cactus League. The Brewers fell to 3-4.

"I hate losing games like that," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "It just drives me crazy."

The Brewers had led since the second inning thanks to a balanced offense that included RBIs from Khris Davis, Martin Maldonado and Caleb Gindl and a strong start by right-hander Wily Peralta. In his second spring appearance and first start, Peralta allowed one hit, one walk and struck out three batters in three scoreless innings.

He said he started throwing earlier than usual over the winter to avoid a repeat of last season's slow start.

"He looks great. Fastball command is good, velocity is great, movement is great," Roenicke said. "I'm glad to hear that he's trying to get off to a good start. He really hasn't told me that, but that's what we've talked about [in staff meetings]. We want to get him off to a good start, and right now, mentally, it looks like he's into it."

A's starter Dan Straily, meanwhile, didn't fare so well in his Cactus League debut, getting ahead of hitters but struggling to put them away. He retired each of his first four batters but put six of the next eight on base, via a pair of walks and four hits, and departed in the third inning with the bases loaded in a 2-0 deficit.

Only one of those runners scored against righty reliever Evan Scribner, who is vying for the A's final bullpen spot and remained in the game to rack up his fourth scoreless inning of the spring. He has struck out four in that span.

The A's got their first run from John Jaso, who belted his first homer of the spring to right-center field in the sixth. Jaso was making his first start at catcher since Wednesday's opener, when he was hit by a pitch above his right elbow.

Up next: Yovani Gallardo will make his second spring start when the Brewers host the A's on Wednesday at Maryvale Baseball Park, the second meeting of these teams in as many days, and their third meeting in the first week of Spring Training. Gallardo worked two scoreless innings in his unofficial season debut last week, holding the Giants to one hit, and is one of the candidates (with Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza) to start Opening Day against the Braves. Roenicke has yet to make his plan public. Wednesday's game begins a stretch of four consecutive home games, each of which will be televised on FS Wisconsin.