More photos » ... by Morry Gash - AP ... about 9 hours ago: ... In this Feb. 26, 2009 file photo, Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo throws before the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File) ... Browse more photos » ... The Brewers have said goodbye to the 2009 Cactus League and open a two-game set with the Dodgers tonight before opening the regular season Tuesday ... For the Brewers, Yovani Gallardo
The Brewers' current hot streak has led them all the way up to second place in the Cactus League, but they are still five games back of the first place Angels with five games left to play in Arizona. As such, today's game is obviously a must win ... Scheduled starters Yovani Gallardo and Randy Johnson are being held back to prevent them from showing too much to the team they'll face in the second game of the regular season. Instead, it'll be Mark DiFelice taking the mound against Joe Martinez
Before I get to my point, let me acknowledge that balls have been flying out of ballparks for the last week in Arizona. Since the beginning of play Sunday, thirty Cactus League games have been played, with the average score being 9-5.5. Teams are scoring 7.26 runs per game in Arizona this week, and 16 of 60 possible teams have scored ten runs or more in a game, including four teams that scored ten or more runs and lost ... With that said, Brewer pitching has left a fair amount to be desired this
Rockies 7, Brewers 1 ... W: Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0) ... L: Yovani Gallardo (2-2) ... HR: Sal Fasano (3), Todd Helton (4), Ryan Spilborghs (3) ... The Brewer bats never woke up today, as a lineup composed mostly of backups and whoever wanted a free bus ride to Tucson managed managed just four hits on the day and was held scoreless until picking up three hits in the ninth, led by Carlos Corporan's RBI single ... Yovani Gallardo pitched five innings and gave up six runs on six hits, including three
Hopefully the wind has calmed down today as Yovani Gallardo leads the Brewers into Tucson to take on Ubaldo Jimenez and the Rockies ... Gallardo didn't allow a hit in his last outing, and has posted a 3.29 ERA in 13.2 Cactus League innings. All of his runs were allowed in one disastrous start against the Royals: If he hadn't taken the mound that day he'd be riding a 13 inning scoreless streak ... On the other side of the coin, Ubaldo Jimenez is not having a good spring. He's making his fourth
There's a difference between the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues that comes up about this time each year: travel. While Grapefruit League teams are spread out all over Florida, nearly all of the Cactus League teams are in Phoenix or the suburbs: in fact, today's game is the first time the Brewers have played outside the greater Phoenix area all spring ... Yovani Gallardo takes the hill against former Brewer Doug Davis. Gallardo was very effective in his last outing and has posted a 5.19 ERA in 8.2
Well, the Brewers have lost back to back games, and will look to avoid their third consecutive loss while hosting the only winless team in the Cactus League ... It's Yovani Gallardo vs Greg Smith at 2:05 from Maryvale. Gallardo struggled with control in his first spring start, walking two and giving up a hit in one scoreless inning of work before being pulled early to save his pitch count. Smith also struggled, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks in two innings ... No radio
News of the day: Manager Ken Macha lined up his starting rotation for exhibition play like this: RHP Jeff Suppan, RHP Yovani Gallardo, LHP Manny Parra, RHP Braden Looper, RHP Dave Bush. Macha emphasized that this doesn't mean he'll line up his pitchers in this order for the regular season ...
News of the day: Right-hander Yovani Gallardo decided to pull out of the World Baseball Classic and not pitch for Mexico. Gallardo missed most of last season with a pair of knee surgeries and decided it was best to stay in the Brewers' camp ...