Cozart, Broxton trade HRs in Reds-Crew tilt
PHOENIX -- The Reds' Zack Cozart and Brewers' Keon Broxton traded first-inning home runs when the National League Central rivals met for the first time in 2017 at Maryvale Baseball Park on Wednesday.
Lucas Erceg ended the game with a walk-off single, scoring Mauricio Dubon, to give the Brewers the 3-2 win.
Playing his first Cactus League game, Cozart gave the Reds a 1-0 lead when he connected with one out in the first inning against Brewers starter Chase Anderson, who made his own spring debut with an otherwise clean inning of work. Cozart finished last season on the disabled list with tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee, and the Reds have been cautious with him at the start of camp.
The Brewers reclaimed the lead before Reds right-hander Lisalverto Bonilla recorded his first out. Broxton hit Bonilla's first pitch for a home run, Jonathan Villar followed with a double and Scooter Gennett hit an RBI single for a 2-1 Brewers lead. Bonilla is a waiver claim who is bidding for the Reds' starting rotation.
"I was just missing the spots on the outside corner. My arm felt really good today," Bonilla said via translator Julio Morillo. "I know what I have to do. For example, my curveball today wasn't good. It was kind of down and wasn't a strike. I know what I have to practice to get better for the next time out."
In the fourth, the Reds tied the game while spoiling the debut of new Brewers closer Neftali Feliz. Scott Schebler led off the inning with a single before Eugenio Suarez hit a game-tying double off Feliz, who came to the Brewers as a free agent on a one-year deal.
Reds Up Next: Four Reds regulars -- including Joey Votto and Billy Hamilton -- will be in the starting lineup Thursday when the Reds face the Cubs at 3:05 p.m. ET. Top pitching prospect Amir Garrett will start as he works to make the big league rotation in camp.
Brewers Up Next:Matt Garza makes his spring debut when the Brewers travel to Peoria, Ariz., on Thursday at 2:10 p.m. CT. The game will air exclusively via Brewers.com webcast.
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