Feb 28, 2008

Brewers'

big guns

fire in win

over A's

ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOENIX - Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun wasted no time flexing their muscles.

Fielder had an RBI double and towering sacrifice fly in his first two at-bats, and Braun crushed a tape-measure home run in his first trip to the plate and the Milwaukee Brewers cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics in the exhibition opener for both clubs.

Braun's homer off Oakland starter Joe Blanton landed in a camera well stationed high above the wall in center. He added a sacrifice fly in the second inning.

"If I took batting practice all day, I probably couldn't do that again," Braun said about finding the camera well.

Fielder and Braun, the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year, combined for 84 home runs and 216 RBIs last season and are expected to anchor a high-scoring lineup for the Brewers this season.

Braun batted in front of Fielder, the cleanup hitter, but manager Ned Yost is considering flip-flopping them this year and did so in the exhibition opener.

New Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron, who must sit out a 25-game suspension to begin the season, singled in his first two at-bats to help the Brewers score six runs in the first two innings.

"It was a good day," said Yost. "The guys swung the bats well, we made some nice plays on defense and I liked the way everybody threw the ball."

Oakland's lone run came on an eighth-inning home run by Dan Johnson off right-hander Scott Cassidy.

Blanton, whose name has been mentioned in trade rumors for several weeks and who is still a candidate to be dealt, was roughed up for eight hits and six runs in two innings.

"I wanted to work on my fastball command and they were swinging at everything," said Blanton.

Oakland outfielder Ryan Sweeney suffered a bruised left knee during a collision at first base with Fielder in the second inning and left the game.

"We'll have it looked at (Friday)," said manager Bob Geren. "I think he'll be OK."

The Brewers had a slight scare in the pre-game workout when Bill Hall was struck on the right index finger while taking ground balls at third base. Hall was taken to a nearby hospital for X-rays, but they were negative.

Hall refused to come out of the starting lineup and had a double in his first at-bat. Making the transition from center field to third base this season, Hall played five innings.