Brewers Lose Spring Training Opener to Guardians 9-6

Lockridge homers, Chourio gets off to a strong start in loss

Feb. 21, 2026 at 11:19pm

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The Milwaukee Brewers kicked off their spring training schedule with a 9-6 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. Despite strong performances from Brandon Lockridge, who hit a solo home run, and top prospect Jackson Chourio, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, the Brewers were unable to overcome a late Guardians rally.

Why it matters

Spring training games may not count in the standings, but they provide an important opportunity for teams to evaluate their players and prepare for the upcoming regular season. The Brewers' loss to the Guardians offers insights into the team's strengths and areas for improvement as they look to build on their success from last year.

The details

The Brewers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, with Brice Turang scoring on a sacrifice fly by Akil Baddoo in the first inning and Lockridge hitting a solo home run in the second. However, the Guardians rallied in the fourth inning, scoring three runs to take a 3-2 lead. The Brewers regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth, with David Hamilton hitting a two-run double, but the Guardians responded with a three-run homer in the fifth to go up 6-4. The Guardians added three more runs in the sixth, and the Brewers were unable to mount a comeback, falling 9-6.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Brandon Lockridge

A Brewers outfielder who hit a solo home run in the second inning.

Jackson Chourio

A top Brewers prospect who went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles in the game.

Garrett Stallings

The Brewers' starting pitcher, who worked around a pair of singles in the first inning.

Cooper Ingle

A Guardians catcher who hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning.

Nolan Jones

A Guardians outfielder who hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning.

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What’s next

The Brewers will continue their spring training schedule with a split-squad day on Sunday, facing the White Sox on the road and the Royals at home.

The takeaway

Despite the loss, the Brewers' performance in their spring training opener offers encouraging signs, with strong showings from key players like Lockridge and Chourio. As the team continues to prepare for the regular season, they will look to build on these early successes and address any areas of concern.