Gallo's blast off Garza sparks Rangers
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PHOENIX -- Robinson Chirinos sparked a five-run rally with a tiebreaking, two-run single in the sixth inning, and the Rangers beat the Brewers, 8-5, on Friday at Maryvale Baseball Park.
Joey Gallo hit a long three-run home run in the second inning and Delino DeShields added a two-run triple in Texas' go-ahead sixth, sending the Brewers to their fifth straight loss.
The Rangers boosted their Cactus League record to 7-2-1.
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Jeremy Guthrie, trying to win a spot in the Rangers' rotation, made his first start of the spring and went two innings. He gave up a leadoff home run to Domingo Santana in the first and then retired six of the next seven hitters. The baserunner reached on an error, and Guthrie struck out three.
Guthrie said this is the first time in 11 years he has come to Spring Training trying to make a ballclub. He had some back spasms early in camp but feels he is in position to make a run for a starting job.
"Physically, I am in the shape I wanted to be in coming into camp," Guthrie said. "I had the setback with the back spasms and that's unpredictable, but I feel good, I feel strong. It's a matter of pitching good and making the team. I believe in myself as a pitcher. I feel I'm able to do the things I'm capable of doing, good things will happen. That's the kind of peace I have coming into Spring Training."
Santana finished 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. He is 6-for-8 with two doubles and a homer from the leadoff spot, where he might stick for Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell.
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Michael Reed also homered for the Brewers.
Milwaukee starter Matt Garza was charged with three runs on two hits and three walks in three innings. Two of those walks came leading off the second inning, and Garza then fell behind Gallo, 2-and-0, and surrendered a home run that bounced off a walkway in right field and through a fence separating the main stadium from one of the Brewers' practice fields.
"I came out firing the first inning, and that second inning I got a little too [mentally] quiet," Garza said. "I lost some aggressiveness. You saw it -- two walks, and then I tried to get back in a count. It's Spring Training. It's fine. Now I know that level I have to have. After that, everything else turned around and was great."
Of the Gallo homer, Garza said, "He's got a good swing, you know? But if I see him again, I'll break his bat. I'm not worried about it. He's a big boy. He hit the hell out of a high fastball on 2-0. So, next time, I'll get him. I'm not worried about it."
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Up next for the Rangers:Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus will try to continue their hot starts Saturday when the Rangers host the A's at 2:05 p.m. CT (watch live on MLB.TV) at Surprise Stadium. Beltre is 4-for-9 with a sacrifice fly in his first five Cactus League games while Andrus is 5-for-8 with two walks. Right-hander Phil Klein will start for the Rangers, with Colby Lewis pitching in a B game.
Up next for the Brewers:Jonathan Lucroy should be back behind the plate Saturday (live on MLB.TV at 2:05 p.m. CT) when Taylor Jungmann makes the start against the Rockies at Maryvale Baseball Park. Lucroy is off to a comfortable start in the Cactus League, with four hits, including a pair of doubles, in his first 12 at-bats. The game will be televised on FS Wisconsin and will also air on the Brewers Radio Network.