Game report: Brewers bop their way past Diamondbacks

On the field: Travis Shaw and Jesús Aguilar homered, and the Brewers' bullpen allowed just one run over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday at Maryvale Baseball Park.

Shaw's homer got the Brewers on the board in the first inning. It came against left-hander Robbie Ray and nearly went completely over the batter's eye in center field. Milwaukee then scored three times in the fifth to regain the lead, and Aguilar bashed his team-leading fourth homer in the sixth.

"The swing today was a ball, frankly," manager Craig Counsell said. "It was out of the zone, an 0-2 pitch, but he's just a strong man."

Starter Matt Garza surrendered five hits, four runs (earned) and a walk in a 3 1/3-inning, roughly 60-pitch outing. David Peralta homered off Garza, whose spring ERA is now 8.31. He also has yet to record a strikeout.

"Just got to stick with the process. But it's frustrating," Garza said. "I could have went through that lineup with my heater, but then what does that do? What work do I get in? My spins are good. Not consistent right now, but I got everything in – changeups, curveballs, some good sliders with depth. It's frustrating because I want the results now, but I have to just keep sticking with the process."

Also, Counsell said that Wily Peralta will follow starter Jimmy Nelson in Friday's game against Kansas City. Peralta returned earlier in the week from his stint with Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and has pitched just once this spring, a two-inning outing Feb. 26.

BOX SCORE: Brewers 8, Diamondbacks 5

NOTES: Gennett wants to expand repertoire

Reliever Carlos Torres, also just back from the WBC, will pitch Saturday in a minor-league game.

Cactus juice: After a hiatus of several years, the Brewers will once again don green hats for St. Patrick's Day on Friday when they host the Kansas City Royals at Maryvale Baseball Park. The team also is taking things a step further, issuing green socks to players and also replacing the logos on the batting helmets with special St. Patrick's Day-themed decals.

Weather: Sunny, 89.

Scoreboard: Brewers 8, Diamondbacks 5. Record: 11-9-1. Friday: Brewers vs. Royals, 3:05 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Jimmy Nelson (0-0, 0.00) vs. Kansas City RHP Nathan Karns (0-2, 7.71). TV: FS Wisconsin.

Countdown: 17 days until opening day, April 3, against Colorado at Miller Park.

Todd Rosiak