Guardians 9, Brewers 6: Chourio, Lockridge each have 2 hits in Cactus opener

Game recap

Guardians 9, Brewers 6

Milwaukee held a 4-3 lead going into the fifth inning but Cleveland responded with its second and third straight three-run innings to take control in the teams’ Cactus League lid-lifter at American Family Fields of Phoenix.

The highlight for the Brewers was the fourth inning, when Tyler Black and Brandon Lockridge singled, pulled off a double steal and then scored on a double by David Hamilton.

Jackson Chourio, starting at designated hitter, and Lockridge, starting in center, each had two-hit days to lead Milwaukee.

Lockridge’s first hit was a 440-foot, first-pitch bomb of a home run to left field to lead off the bottom of the second.

Box score

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Logan Henderson (43) throws against a wall during spring training workouts Sunday, February 15, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick talks with teammates during spring training workouts Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy (49) talks with Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect Ryan Birchard during spring training workouts Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers pitchers Trevor Megill, left, and pitcher Abner Uribe talk in the dugout during spring training workouts Saturday, February 14, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Brice Turang throws to first during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers players warm up in the outfield during spring training workouts Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Sammy Peralta (57) throws in the bullpen during spring training workouts Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio skips as part of his warmup during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras hits in the batting cage during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz (3) throws to second base during spring training workouts Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (22) walks off the field between drills during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder/outfielder Jett Williams rounds third base during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Luis Rengifo (13) fields a chopper during spring training workouts Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff (53) throws in the outfield during spring training workouts Saturday, February 14, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Jesús Made fields a ground ball during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers infeilder/outfielder Greg Jones stands in the batting cage during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder David Hamilton fields a grounder during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill catches a ball during spring training workouts Sunday, February 15, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Coleman Crow (72) stretches during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick runs the bases during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe fields a ball during spring training workouts Sunday, February 15, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn plays catch during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Sproat (23) stretches during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Luis Rengifo, right, talks with Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio during spring training workouts Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Brice Turang (2) stenches with a group of players during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski tosses a football during spring training workouts Sunday, February 15, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Luis Pena takes a throw in a double-play drill during spring training workouts Sunday, February 15, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe (45) watches from the dugout during spring training workouts Saturday, February 14, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez talks with teammates in the bullpen during spring training workouts Saturday, February 14, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio hits in the batting cage during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Brewers third base prospect Andrew Fischer throws to first base spring training workouts Sunday, February 15, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chad Patrick (39) comes off the field during spring training workouts Saturday, February 14, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

Milwaukee Brewers infield prospects Brady Ebel, left, and Josh Adamczewski talk during spring training workouts Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.

«He’s a great kid. He can run. I trust him,» Murphy said. «He’s right in the thick of it.»

– The first incidence of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System occurred in the second inning, when Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges challenged a called ball in a 2-2 count with Hamilton at the plate. The challenge by Hedges proved successful, and Hamilton went down as a strikeout victim.

There were seven challenges in all in the game, with five calls overturned and two confirmed. The lone challenge lodged by the Brewers came from Reese McGuire, and the call was confirmed.

– For the second consecutive spring, brothers Jackson and Jaison Chourio – a Cleveland outfielder – shared the same diamond.

But it marked the first time both were in the lineup at the same time, and in the fifth inning, Jackson singled to Jaison in center.

«I was trying to hit a fly ball to him,» Jackson said with a smile.

– Brock Wilken has been slowed by a right shoulder impingement in recent days but replaced Chourio as designated hitter in the seventh inning and drew a walk.

More: Brewers tap all minor-league pitchers in their 2026 spring opener

Brewers outfielder Brandon Lockridge is congratulated by teammates after scoring on a double by David Hamilton in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at American Family Fields of Phoenix.

Pat Murphy, unplugged

«A lot of good at-bats. A lot of good defensive plays. Get out and play a game,» Murphy on what stood out to him in his team’s spring opener.

Prospect watch

Right-hander Tyson Hardin, the No. 10 Brewers prospect as ranked by the Journal Sentinel, surrendered the lead for good in the fifth when he surrendered a two-out, three-run homer to right-center to Nolan Jones.

Top prospect Jesús Made replaced Joey Ortiz at shortstop in the sixth and went 0 for 2 and Luis Peña entered the game in the seventh and laced a ringing single to center in his lone at-bat.