Brewers shut out by Athletics

Brewers shut out by Athletics

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:19 p.m. ET

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -- Kendall Graveman continued his impressive spring with 6 1/3 innings of three-hit ball, further staking his claim to a spot in the Athletics' rotation and leading Oakland to a 7-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Graveman retired the first 14 batters he faced and got run support from Brett Lawrie's two-run home run in the third inning. Billy Butler added a solo home run in the seventh and Josh Phegley and Sam Fuld, who hit a pair of doubles, drove in runs in the sixth.

Graveman, 24, has allowed just one run and 10 hits in 21 1/3 innings this spring. The Brewers didn't get their first hit until Gerardo Parra's single with two out in the top of the fifth.

"Really challenged hitters, challenged in the zone, just tried not to walk people and make them put it in play," Graveman said. "That's just baseball. That's how it works."

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A's manager Bob Melvin said Graveman looked confident on the mound.

"There's a reason he went from A-ball to the big leagues and has continued to pitch in the same fashion with us," Melvin said.

Brewers starter Michael Blazek, competing for a spot in the bullpen, appeared to hurt his cause with four walks in 3 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs and four hits.

"I didn't have the breaking ball I've had the last few outings," Blazek said. "I was battling, trying to get command of that. I was fighting it. I tried to make adjustments toward the end and did a little better."

Chris Perez, Tyler Thornburg and Rob Wooten, three other Milwaukee relievers competing for bullpen jobs, had mixed results. Perez retired the only batter he faced, Thornburg was roughed up for three runs on four hits with a walk and strikeout in 1 2/3 innings and Wooten walked two and gave up a run and a hit in 1 1/3 innings.

"We're getting closer to making decisions and they're trying to show what they can do," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said, adding that those will come in the next couple of days. "We've still seen enough of guys where we have a pretty good idea."

Starting time: Blazek said his mechanics were off, but he isn't thinking too far ahead in terms of whether he makes the big-league roster. He made his seventh appearance of the spring including two starts.

Up next: The Brewers have Monday off, then send Mike Fiers to the mound Tuesday against Cincinnati.

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