ROCHESTER, Mich. – All nine of Milwaukee's starters had at least one hit, backing a six-inning outing by starting pitcher Gavin Theis as the Panthers knocked off host Oakland, 12-4, to open the weekend series.
 
Theis threw the first six innings and struck out five batters to earn his second win of the season. Lucas Watson followed in the seventh before handing it off to Alex Vander Loop for the final two innings.
 
Offensively, Charlie Marion and Max Glusick had multi-hit games as the Panthers outhit the Golden Grizzlies, 11-7. Tate Schmidt led Milwaukee with three RBIs, while Dylan O'Connell and Joey Spence each drove in a pair.
 
"I was proud of the way we continued to chip away and put up numbers on the scoreboard," said Milwaukee head coach Shaun Wegner. "A couple guys came through in RBI situations where they have struggled early, and that's great to see."
 
Milwaukee scored a pair in the top of the first as Dominic Kibler and Bradyn Horn drove in runs. Oakland answered with a solo home run off Theis in the bottom of the inning and took its first lead of the game with a two-run double in the fourth to go ahead, 3-2.
 
The Panthers regained the lead in the top of the fifth with a four-run inning. Spence and Christian Holmes walked before Grant Ross was hit by a pitch. Schmidt walked to force in the tying run before O'Connell doubled home a pair to put Milwaukee up for good. Schmidt later scored on a wild pitch to make it a three-run game.
 
After the first two batters reached in the bottom of the fifth, Theis settled down and struck out the next batter before inducing a ground ball double play to end the threat.
 
"Today was a solid team effort and some really big defensive plays that kept the momentum in our dugout," added Wegner. "Props to Spence for some crucial picks at first base today."
 
Marion homered in the top of the sixth before Theis finished his outing by tossing another scoreless frame.
 
"Theis competed and kept us in that game until we could pull away," said Wegner. "They touched Watson for the solo home run in the seventh, but he threw the ball well in his quick outing."
 
Milwaukee added to its lead in the eight with five more runs, including a two-run double by Spence, RBI single by Holmes, and two-run knock by Schmidt to cap the scoring.
 
Vander Loop entered and stranded a pair of runners in the eighth and one in the ninth, striking out the final batter of the game to seal the win.
 
Kyle Revere homered for Oakland off Theis, and Ben Clark connected on a home run off Watson to lead the Golden Grizzlies offensively. George Hansen started and allowed the first four runs over 4 1/3. Oakland used six relievers over the remainder of the game.
 
Milwaukee and Oakland will play game two of the series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. (CT) at Oakland Baseball Field.