Goldschmidt, Lucroy HR as D-backs, Brewers tie

March 26th, 2016

PHOENIX -- The Brewers put together a big ninth-inning rally for the second straight day, scoring four times in the final frame for a 7-7 tie with the D-backs on Saturday at Maryvale Baseball Park.
A day earlier against the Cubs, Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a go-ahead double to finish a five-run ninth in the Brewers' 5-4 win. Nieuwenhuis figured again on Saturday, lining a long single high off the right-field wall before catcher Manny Pina smacked a three-run homer off Sam LeCure to pull the Brewers to within one.

Alex Presley continued the rally with a single off Wesley Wright. Three batters later, Hernan Perez grounded a single through the left side to tie game and snap the D-backs' three-game winning streak.

"I don't know what to make of that, but we've done a good job the last two days -- four- and five-run innings in the ninth," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "Spring Training baseball."
Arizona slugger Paul Goldschmidt hit his second Cactus League home run in the first inning off Brewers starter Matt Garza as Arizona built a 4-0 lead in the first four innings for starter Patrick Corbin, who was charged with three earned runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Corbin didn't allow a hit until Brewers first baseman Jonathan Lucroy's solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. Lucroy finished 1-for-3 and is hitting .366 this spring.
It marked the first time in two years Corbin, who missed the 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and returned last July, eclipsed 80 pitches.
"I felt strong in the seventh," Corbin said. "That was probably the biggest thing to take away from today."
For the D-backs, former Brewer Jean Segura led off the game with a triple and scored on Chris Owings' sacrifice fly before Goldschmidt's home run made it 2-0. Segura added an RBI single in the second and is batting .521 this spring.

Garza was charged with four earned runs on nine hits in five innings. He walked a batter and struck out two.
Brandon Drury and Peter O'Brien continued their power-packed springs by hitting insurance home runs for Arizona.

Drury has four homers in the Cactus League, and O'Brien has five.
Up next for the D-backs: Arizona will play a pair of split-squad games on Sunday. The D-backs host the Rockies at Salt River Fields and face the Rangers at Surprise Stadium. Both games will start at 1:05 p.m. MST and can be watched live on MLB.TV. Rubby De La Rosa will make his second-to-last start of the spring against the Rockies, while Yoan Lopez will start against the Rangers.
Up next for the Brewers: Closer Jeremy Jeffress is on the list to pitch as the Brewers travel to Goodyear, Ariz. on Sunday to play the Indians. Jeffress was expected to open the season as a co-closer with Will Smith, but Smith is sidelined indefinitely with a torn ligament in his right knee, elevating Jeffress to the lone closer. Taylor Jungmann will start the 1:05 p.m. CT Easter Sunday game, which can be seen live on MLB.TV.