PHOENIX (AP) _ Davey Lopes managed his first game for the Milwaukee Brewers and it came to an unusual end: a tie.

Thursday's spring opener for the Brewers and Oakland Athletics was called after 11 innings with the teams at 12-12.

"Finishing in a tie was the furthest thing from my mind. This isn't hockey," said Lopes, hired as Milwaukee's manager last November following eight years as a major league assistant and a 16-year career as a player.

"But it was nice to get out there and start managing. That felt good. A lot of good things happened. It was the first game. Sometimes we weren't as sharp as we could be but we'll eliminate the mistakes as we go along."

Milwaukee starter Jason Bere, signed to a minor league contract by the Brewers last August, pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit.

Oakland starter Tim Hudson, 11-2 as a rookie last season, allowed one run and two hits in two innings and struck out four.

Ben Grieve hit a three-run homer during a four-run eighth inning for Oakland and teammate Eric Chavez had a solo shot earlier in the game.

Damon Hollins snapped an 11-all tie in ninth when he homered off Jon Ratliff. he A's evened the score in their half of the ninth on an RBI single by Bo Porter.

The teams combined for 26 hits and six errors, including one by Milwaukee in the ninth that led to the tying run.