Ryan Braun – UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Apparently there was some truth to Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke’s holding out slugger Ryan Braun for two games to fix bad tendencies in his swing.
Since returning to the lineup, the former MVP has smashed three home runs, including two in Wednesday’s 8-3 win at Cincinnati.
Braun broke open a 3-2 game with a grand slam, the fourth of his career and his fourth homer of the season, as part of a five-run eighth inning.
He, along with Adam Lind (4) and Khris Davis (1) each hit solo home runs off rookie Michael Lorenzen (0-1), who was making his MLB debut.
Cincinnati (10-11) continued the home run derby, connecting on three solo shots in the loss. Matt Garza (2-3) allowed two, but struck out four and scattered six hits pitching into the seventh.
For the series, the Reds and Brewers combined for 13 blasts over the outfield wall, with just a single run in the last two games being scored in a way other than a home run.
The win ends a horrendous opening month for the Brewers, who finish 5-17 and without back-to-back wins in the entire month of April.
Milwaukee, now 2-5 against the Reds and 2-7 on the road, continues its run of 22-consecutive games against Central Division foes with a three-game series at Chicago. Game one is Friday at 1:20pm with Wily Peralta (0-3) and John Lester (0-2) as the scheduled starters.
The series will likely also see the return of centerfielder Carlos Gomez to the Milwaukee lineup on Saturday. Gomez has been on the 15-day disabled list with a strained hamstring.