Vinny Capra hits walk-off homer as Brewers win in first game of spring

Capra hits two home runs as baseball is finally back!

Box Score

The Milwaukee Brewers took the win in their first game of spring training with an MVP-caliber performance from Vinny Capra—OK, that might be overstating it, but he was certainly the hero of the afternoon.

After a tug of war throughout the game, Capra launched a walk-off homer, his second of the game, with two outs in the ninth inning. Capra’s six RBIs on the day were the standout stat as he went 2-for-3.

The Reds were able to scratch three runs across the plate in the second inning to start the action. Brewers pitcher Grant Anderson recorded two outs, but also allowed two walks, setting the stage for a small rally. He surrendered back-to-back singles to TJ Friedl and Gavin Lux to score two runs. Anderson was replaced by Nick Merkel, who recorded the third out of the inning.

The Reds tacked on a few more runs in the following innings as Thomas Pannone and Vinny Nittoli gave up a run each in their stints on the mound for Milwaukee. In Pannone’s case, it was a home run by Santiago Espinal. Nittoli’s run was allowed on a double from Lux for his third RBI of the afternoon.

It took a while for the Brewers’ bats to heat up, but the bench bats were able to make the game interesting. In the sixth inning, the first three Brewers all reached base. Andruw Monasterio led off with a double, followed by a walk from Luis Lara.

Vinny Capra made good on his teammates’ work, hitting a home run in a 3-1 count for a three-run score to make it 5-3.

Ernesto Martinez Jr. would equalize the game in the following inning with a home run of his own. Martinez Jr. took four at-bats in the game, going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. He spent all of last season at Double-A Biloxi with an .831 OPS.

The Reds managed a late lead in the following inning however. Brewers pitcher Tyler Woessner had a rough sequence as Cincinnati plated two runs. Woessner recorded one out, but followed by walking a batter, allowing a single, throwing a wild pitch, and hitting another batter. Reds first baseman PJ Higgins hit a two-run single to capitalize on the unfortunate series of events.

This, of course, is when Capra added to his highlights. After two leadoff singles from the Brewers, the Reds were able to record two outs. But Capra came up to the plate and hit his walk-off shot off reliever Alan Busenitz.

That’s one way to start the season.

The Brewers will take on another split-squad team tomorrow in their matchup against the Colorado Rockies. Aaron Ashby is slated to start against Kyle Freeland at Salt River Fields. First pitch is at 2:10 p.m.