Kendall Graveman pitches into 7th inning as A's defeat Brewers 7-0

MESA, Ariz. — Kendall Graveman continued his impressive spring with 6⅓ 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 21⅓ 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.'

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.'

REDDICK TO OPEN IN MINORS

A's outfielder Josh Reddick said Sunday that he won't break camp on the active major-league roster, with more rehab work to be done on his injured oblique.

Reddick played five innings of a minor-league game Sunday. He reported no issues swinging the bat, running the bases and sliding.

'It's a huge relief,' he said. 'I wasn't really worried about anything bothering me. Went out there and got a couple of three-ball counts. Swung hard trying to hit it far.'

Reddick tried to talk his way onto the roster, to no avail. He laid out his schedule for the next several days, saying he'll play in a minor-league game Tuesday, keep getting his work in until the end of spring training and then will join Class A Stockton for a brief rehab assignment.

He plans to be activated by the sixth game of the regular season, in which the A's are scheduled to face Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez.

TRANSACTIONS

The A's optioned RHP Chris Bassitt to Class AAA Sacramento before Sunday's game. Bassitt had an 8.78 earned run average in five appearances this spring, including three starts. OF Alex Hassan was also optioned to Sacramento after missing more than two weeks with a hamstring injury.

After the game, Oakland reassigned catcher Luke Carlin and infielders Max Muncy and Andy Parrino to their minor league camp.

The Brewers optioned RHP Brandon Kintzler to AAA Colorado Springs Sunday. He's allowed six earned runs in 8⅓ innings out of the bullpen this spring.

STARTING TIME

Brewers: 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.

Athletics: Graveman expressed satisfaction with his spring training this year. 'It's just been a blessing to be out there and pitching and throwing up zeroes. Trying not to think too much, just trying to let it happen,' he said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: OF Coco Crisp (elbow) hasn't played since March 23. ... P Jarrod Parker is scheduled for a simulated game on Thursday. He's got a ways to go before his comeback from Tommy John surgery is complete.

UP NEXT

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

Athletics: Drew Pomeranz, who looks bound for the opening-day starting rotation, faces his former team, the Colorado Rockies, on Monday.