PHOENIX -- In the end, Ryan Braun's bat couldn't overcome
his glove -- or, more accurately, his arm.
The Milwaukee Brewers' rookie third baseman hit his fifth home
run of spring training, tying for the Cactus League lead, but was
sent back to minor league camp Monday after his team's 11-7 loss to
a Chicago Cubs split squad.
On his way out, Braun showcased the same tools that defined his
spring: good bat, shaky defense. He hit a three-run homer as a
pinch-hitter in the sixth inning, then committed his fourth
throwing error in the seventh.
Braun's five homers came in four Cactus League games -- and he
made a throwing error in each one.
"He's really done a nice job offensively, but he still needs to
polish some of his defense," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "He
knows what he needs to do. He's really, really close."
Braun, a first-round draft pick in 2005, will play regularly in
minor league camp and probably start the season as the everyday
third baseman for Triple-A Nashville.
"Obviously, I'm a little disappointed, but I kind of saw it
coming," Braun said. "I'll just go down there and work hard and
get better defensively and hopefully I'll be back up here soon."
Braun began Cactus League play by hitting a pair of homers and
driving in seven runs in the exhibition opener. He homered again
the next day but made throwing errors in both games and then
mentioned he was having discomfort in his elbow.
The Brewers shut him down for a week, and he said the elbow was
not a problem. Still, when he homered last Thursday and again on
Monday, he also made throwing errors.
His error Monday came after he made a diving stop. He got up and
threw in plenty of time to get Chicago's Jacque Jones, but the ball
sailed well wide of first baseman Vinny Rottino.
"It was a tough play," Braun said before he learned he was
sent down. "I did everything I could to try to make the play."
Cubs prospect Felix Pie had three hits to raise his spring
training average to .370, Daryle Ward drove in four runs with a
pair of two-run doubles and Jones hit a three-run homer to lead
Chicago.
The Cubs scored five times in the first inning off Milwaukee
prospect Yovani Gallardo. Pie's one-out triple in the fifth started
a two-run rally.
Bill Hall hit a two-run homer for the Brewers.
Game notes
Milwaukee also returned Gallardo, pitcher Luther Hackman
and catcher Nestor Corredor to its minor league camp. The Brewers
optioned OF Drew Anderson and pitcher Dennis Sarfate to Triple-A
Nashville, and 2B Hernan Iribarren to Double-A Huntsville.