Major League Baseball

Lucroy, Braun lead Brewers beat Indians

Published Apr. 4, 2015 7:29 p.m. ET

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PHOENIX (AP) Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy each ended the spring with two more hits and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cleveland Indians 4-3 Saturday.

Lucroy hit his team-leading fifth homer and Braun had an RBI double in the spring training finale for both teams.

Milwaukee starter Jimmy Nelson stuck out seven in 4 1-3 innings but was in constant trouble, allowing three runs on nine hits and three walks. He left after a two-run homer by Brandon Moss was followed by a double from Lonnie Chisenhall.

Nelson will begin the season as the Brewers' fifth starter.

Luis Sardinas brought home Hector Gomez with an RBI single in the ninth to win it.

Braun's double into the left-field corner in the first drove in Lucroy, who had singled. Braun, who started the spring hitless in 13 at-bats, had 15 hits in his last 25 at-bats to finish at .395 for the spring with eight hits for extra bases.

''He's been swinging the bat very well, which is nice,'' Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said.

Lucroy then homered to lead off the third and Braun hammered a single before taking the rest of the day off.

Lucroy, who missed the first two weeks of games with a hamstring injury, hit safely in the last 12 spring games and finished hitting .435 (20 for 46).

Indians starter Trevor Bauer, No. 3 in the rotation, struck out eight in six innings. He gave up three runs and eight hits.

''I think he's situated to have a nice growing year from where he was last year,'' Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. ''Where that goes will be fun to see. Even when he was having his struggles, he doesn't back down when he gets into a bind he believes what he's doing.

Milwaukee starter Jimmy Nelson stuck out seven in 4 1-3 innings but was in constant trouble, allowing nine hits and three walks. He left after a two-run homer by Brandon Moss was followed by a double from Lonnie Chisenhall during Cleveland's two-run fifth.

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STARTING TIME

Indians: Bauer will break camp with a major league team for the first time in 2015, but wasn't crazy about pitching the ''getaway game'' of spring training with a 12:05 local start time. He finished the spring with 26 strikeouts against one walk.

''I was a little out of sync early. A different day in routine, trying to pack everything up at the stadium and I got started with my throwing program 10 minutes late and ended four minutes early,'' Bauer said. ''I was all out of whack, but I threw the ball pretty well today.''

Brewers: Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke will flip-flop Nelson and Mike Fiers for the first turn of his rotation, with Nelson sliding back to the fifth spot and Fiers moving up to fourth.

''It more the experience and the success that Fiers has had,'' Roenicke said.

Nelson felt it was a spring of learning and adjustments for him.

''I had a lot of chances to work on my secondary stuff, which is good,'' said Nelson, who finished the spring with a 6.23 ERA. ''I just keep trusting the process and that it's going to lead you where it's supposed to.

`I'm excited about Opening Day. It's my first and for a couple of guys on the team and I'm excited for them too. Now I start prepping for Pittsburgh and my first start.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Brewers: As expected, RHP Jim Henderson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to Mar. 26. Henderson is recovering from off-season surgery and working to regain his velocity. Otherwise, the Brewers break camp with a healthy team.

UP NEXT

Indians: RHP Corey Kluber will start the season-opener at Houston on Monday.

Brewers: RHP Kyle Lohse will start for the Brewers against Colorado on Monday.

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