Ryan Braun proves he's ready to play

PHOENIX -- Ryan Braun said he is game-ready earlier than ever in spring training, then went out and proved it.

Braun socked a home run in his first at-bat Saturday as the Milwaukee Brewers held on for a 2-1 victory over Oakland in their Cactus League opener at Maryvale Baseball Park.

Because he will be leaving in a week to join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic, Braun accelerated his pre-camp workouts and plans to get more at-bats than usual in the interim.

"I think I'm definitely ahead of where I am normally this time of year," said Braun. "I started my baseball stuff a lot earlier, so I feel pretty good."

Braun looked quite comfortable at the plate in the bottom of the first inning when he drove a pitch from Oakland right-hander Jesse Chavez out to right-center. He walked in his next at-bat before exiting from the game.

"Certainly, it's a good sign," said Braun. "I'd much rather homer than strike out, especially staying through the middle and hitting the ball the other way. When I'm going my best, that's what I do pretty well.

"There's nothing I didn't like about it. It was a homer. Homers are cool. I always like homers."

Ron Roenicke has watched some remarkable offensive exploits from Braun in his two seasons as Brewers manager but nevertheless shook his head at the first at-bat home run.

"It's pretty amazing," said Roenicke. "With two strikes, he can do that. An amazing player. He just doesn't need as much as everybody else to get going. He's gifted to where he can do things other players can't do."

Braun said he would play back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday, the earliest he ever has played consecutive contests in exhibition play. He knows he'll be counted upon to play nine innings right away when Team USA begins play in the WBC on March 8.

"We'll have the luxury of three practices and two (exhibition games) prior to the WBC games," said Braun. "It's certainly more than I usually do but nothing drastic.

"I'll be ready. Those games are fun. You get out there and you're wearing a USA jersey. Just the intensity of those games, I think I'll be prepared regardless of how many innings or at-bats I get here."

The Brewers scored their other run on an RBI groundout by Jean Segura in the fourth inning, then let their pitchers take it from there. Eight pitchers limited the A's to five hits, with only Santo Manzanillo surrendering a run.

The last two innings were covered nicely by Michael Olmsted (two strikeouts) and Jesus Sanchez (one), neither of whom allowed a hit.

"Olmsted, man, that's a nice arm," said Roenicke. "I really like (Sanchez's) arm. He's very compact, short (with his delivery). The ball kind of jumps on you. I like what he does."


(miamiherald.com)