Ryan Braun has 2 hits, 2 RBIs in 3-2 loss to Indians

PHOENIX (AP) — Ryan Braun extended his torrid stretch with two more hits and two RBIs for the Milwaukee Brewers in a 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Saturday.

After an 0-for-12 start this spring, Braun has 10 hits in his last 19 at-bats (.526) and is hitting .323 in Cactus League play. He had both hits against Cleveland starter Zach McAllister, who struck out nine in five innings.

"Their guy was throwing really hard and (Braun) squares it up and the ball was really taking off," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "He looks good. We need to keep him where he is now and hopefully he can maintain that."

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis, who recently missed seven games with back spasms, hit a two-run homer in the second inning. Cleveland scored the go-ahead run on a force play in the eighth.

The Brewers had scored 91 runs in the last 11 games, hitting .353 as a team. But Braun provided all the offense Saturday with an RBI double in the first and a run-scoring single in the fifth.

McAllister made a strong bid for a rotation spot, striking out five consecutive hitters in the second and third innings, and two more in the fifth. He allowed six hits.

"He had real good velocity and he held it through his last inning," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "He also threw some good off-speed pitches. That was impressive but he's been good all spring.

McAllister was matched by Milwaukee starter Wily Peralta, who continued an impressive spring with six innings of two-run, six-hit ball.


(utsandiego.com)