PEORIA, Ariz. -- Carlos Gomez has a way of igniting the Milwaukee Brewers.
Gomez walked and scored in the first inning, and hit a three-run homer in the second off James Shields as the Brewers defeated a San Diego Padres split squad 6-4 on Tuesday.
Gomez hit a long drive to left for his second homer of the spring.
The All-Star and Gold Glove center fielder, who starting pitcher Matt Garza likened to a "stick of dynamite with no fuse" on Tuesday, is batting .385 this spring.
"He can be patient, and at times we see it. But other times he just goes back to swinging mode," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "But when he's looking at pitches and you're going to have to put it on the plate, he's a scary one."
Shields, who had not allowed a run in four innings in his first two starts with his new team, gave up three hits and four runs in three innings. He walked two and struck out five.
Ryan Braun's hitless spring extended to 12 at-bats for the Brewers. He walked, struck out and grounded out.
Cameron Maybin, Jedd Gyorko and Diego Goris homered for the Padres off Garza.
Garza said he had a hard time getting a grip on the ball on a hot, dry day. It didn't help that the wind was blowing out hard.
"He misfired once in a while, but I thought he threw the ball well," Roenicke said. "He made a lot of good pitches but all of a sudden one would get away from him."
Up next for Milwaukee is a contest against the Kansas City Royals. Wily Peralta will get the start for the Brewers.
