Brewers beat Indians, Pirates fall to Orioles

Associated Press

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke has a message for Brewers fans fretting over Ryan Braun’s low batting average: Relax.

Braun drove in two runs, doubling his spring training total, and the Brewers beat the Cleveland Indians 6-5 on Monday.

Norichika Aoki broke a 5-all tie in the ninth with an RBI triple.

“I’m not worried about Ryan at all,” Roenicke said of the .312 career hitter, pointing out that the reigning NL MVP has had only 25 at-bats.

Braun went 1 for 4. He had an RBI single, drove in another run with a groundout, and is hitting just .120 with four RBIs after an offseason that turned tumultuous shortly after he won the NL MVP. He was suspended 50 games for a positive drug test, only to have it overturned last month.

Cleveland’s Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer, his third.

Indians third baseman Jack Hannahan hammered two doubles, one off the fence in left-center, the other down the right-field line, in his first at-bats since March 15. He had been out with a sore back.

Hannahan also made a nice pickup of a slow roller by Travis Ishikawa and strong throw to first for an out.

“The training staff made sure he did all those moves out on the short field before we brought him back,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He had a good day.”

Indians starter Justin Masterson gave up five runs over six innings and said he wished the season would start. He has one more tuneup before opening April 5 at home against Toronto.

“Let’s get the party started,” Masterson said. “I felt good, then started rushing in the fifth. My sinker flattened out. Most of their hits were off flat sinkers.”

Masterson said he is gaining confidence in his changeup.

Orioles 4, Pirates 1

BRADENTON, Fla.

Matt Wieters had three hits and scored a run for Baltimore. Wieters began the seventh inning with a double and scored on Mark Reynolds’ soft single to right field. The Pirates managed just one hit in six innings against Tommy Hunter. The right-hander walked one and struck out five. Left-hander Erik Bedard, who will be the Pirates’ opening day starter, worked six-plus innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits and struck out five.