Ryan Braun booed, Brewers win

PHOENIX — Ryan Braun ignored loud boos in his home spring debut, producing a single and a walk as a Milwaukee Brewers split squad beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 Saturday.

Braun’s first at-bat at Maryvale Baseball Park was met with a vocal and extended chorus of boos, especially from the third-base side loaded with a large contingent of Dodgers fans.

Braun walked and scored on a single by Carlos Gomez. In the third, Brewers fans on the first-base side tried to drown out the boos with a louder round of cheers before his infield single.

The former NL MVP was suspended for the final 65 games of the season last year for his role in the Biogenesis drug scandal. Braun homered Thursday in his first at-bat of exhibition play at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, home of the Oakland A’s.

“He’s dealt with (the boos) before. It’s not new,” Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. “Today was nothing new.”

Yasiel Puig knocked in a run with a deep sacrifice fly to right-center field in the second. The Dodgers went without a hit until Dee Gordon led off the fifth with a bunt single.

Milwaukee starter Kyle Lohse threw two perfect innings.

“He locates all his pitches so well and he’s usually down in the zone,” Roenicke said. “He understands when you need to go after someone and when you should try to make them chase.”

Los Angeles starter Dan Haren allowed a run and three hits over two innings in his Dodgers debut.


(sheboyganpress.com)