PHOENIX — The Padres lost 6-1 to the Brewers on Saturday at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
Batter’s box: Alex Verdugo played for the major league team for a second straight day. Serving as designated hitter, he went 1-for-4. The left-handed hitter, who has played 856 MLB games, will begin the season in Triple-A with the hope he can earn his way back to the majors. … Jase Bowen hit his sixth double, tied with Jackson Merrill and Nick Solak for the team lead this spring. Bowen, who played in Triple-A for the first time in 2025, is vying for the fourth outfielder spot. While Bryce Johnson is expected to win that job, Bowen has impressed the Padres with his athleticism and is expected to be called up at some point this season. … Jose Miranda, expected to begin the season in Triple-A after the Padres told fellow corner infielder Ty France on Saturday that he would make the team, was 1-for-3. He is batting .304 (14-for-46) in Cactus League play. … France, who started at second base, was 1-for-3 and is tied with Bowen and Solak for the team lead with 15 hits this spring. … Francisco Acuña, who finished last season in Triple-A, homered in the ninth inning.
Balls and strikes: Randy Vásquez allowed one hit through his first three innings before surrendering a single and back-to-back home runs in the fourth. He worked a scoreless fifth before getting one out and allowing a home run in the sixth. He was pulled having thrown 74 pitches. Vásquez, who had not allowed a home run in his previous four Cactus League starts, had his spring ERA swell to 4.91. … David Morgan relieved Vásquez and got the final two outs of the sixth. Morgan has allowed one run in 7⅔ innings (eight appearances). … Mason Miller allowed two runs on catcher’s interference, a single off Acuña’s glove at shortstop, a double and a groundout. He was pulled after throwing 18 pitches and getting two outs. … Adrian Morejón stranded a runner for Miller and retired the first two batters in the eighth inning before Ron Marinaccio faced one batter and got the final out.
Extra bases: The temperature at first pitch was 101 degrees. … France and first baseman Nick Castellanos were the only major league position players to appear in the game. Most regulars had started the previous two games and will likely start the next two before the Padres head to San Diego for the start of the season.
On deck: Right-hander Walker Buehler, who also was told Saturday he made the team, will start against the Diamondbacks, 6:10 p.m. PT at Peoria Stadium. Matt Waldron and Wandy Peralta are also scheduled to pitch.