Ryan Braun returns, promptly extends streak to 23

DENVER -- Thursday's game between the Brewers and Rockies at Coors Field marked the start to the season's second half, but it seemed more like Opening Day to Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun.

After missing eight games with a left calf strain, Braun was back in the lineup on Thursday, starting in left field and hitting third.

"I woke up excited knowing I was going to have an opportunity play a baseball game again," said Braun, who doubled in his first at-bat to extend his hitting streak to 23 games. "It feels like it's been awhile."

Braun said he knew after his All-Star workout in Phoenix on Tuesday he would be ready to go in the Brewers' first game back from the break. During that session, Braun said he ran, took batting practice, threw long toss and went through a treatment session with Brewers assistant athletic trainer Dan Wright, who was part of the National League All-Star staff.

"It helped a lot," Braun said of being able to work with Wright. "He was able to oversee the treatment the whole time, so instead of having to kind of start over with somebody, he had a really good idea of exactly what the injury was, where it was, and what we needed to do to get back to 100 percent. I feel very fortunate that he was there and very thankful that he helped me as much as he did."

Bruan said it was reduced tightness in his calf that assured him he was ready to go on Thursday.

"Soreness is not an issue, it's tightness," Bruan said. "Tightness can be a precursor to it getting worse, so it's a matter of how tight it is. But I had never dealt with an injury in either of my legs before, so it's hard for me to figure out exactly what's the amount of pain I should be able to work through and how much is an indication that I could be doing more damage than good to it."

Convinced Braun wouldn't be doing more damage, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said he found pleasure in penciling Braun's name into the three-hole in the lineup.

"He feels well enough that he's going to play," Roenicke said. "We won't push, but we'll just how it goes the first game and see where we're at."


(mlb.com)