Major League Baseball

Puig singles, then trapped off base as Dodgers beat Brewers

Published Mar. 6, 2015 7:13 p.m. ET

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PHOENIX (AP) Yasiel Puig got his first hit of the spring and immediately followed it with his first baserunning blunder Friday as a Los Angeles Dodgers split squad beat the Milwaukee Brewers 10-1.

After A.J. Ellis hit a three-run homer in the second inning, Puig blooped a single over first base and into short right field. Puig sprinted hard, but wound up trapped between first and second and was thrown out.

A dynamic player, Puig has been plagued by mistakes on the bases and in the field.

Puig drew two walks, in addition to his hit. Alex Guerrero and Darnell Sweeney also homered for the Dodgers.

Brewers starter Matt Garza gave up five runs, only one of them earned, and five hits in two innings.

Ellis had never faced Garza in a game.

''I've always watched him from afar and been a big admirer of his work, especially his stuff,'' Ellis said.

''His first at-bat, he got me out. I tapped that same sinker to third. Not that I was necessarily sitting on it, but I had a good idea what his sinker did the second time up. He basically threw the exact same pitch again,'' he said.

The Brewers didn't get a hit until reserves Elian Herrera and Bryan Petersen opened the seventh inning with consecutive singles. Herrera came around to score Milwaukee's only run.

The Brewers dropped two fly balls, threw one into the stands and had more errors (three) than hits (two).

''They came out and man, they really swung the bat,'' Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. ''From the first pitch they just hammered the ball.''

SHOWING HIS STUFF

Julio Urias, the Dodgers' prized 18-year-old prospect from Mexico, threw 1 2-3 hitless innings. He struck out two, walked three, picked off a runner and consistently reached the mid-90s mph with his fastball.

Urias said he had a lot of confidence from the outset. He pitched in one Cactus League game last year.

''It was great to face major league hitters. It was awesome to face Carlos (Gomez), batters like him at this stage,'' Urias said.

Dodgers color commentator Fernando Valenzuela enjoyed watching his fellow countryman.

"Not bad for the first outing,'' he said. ''He looks fine. He has a lot of confidence. Hopefully, he can continue to do it the same way and sooner or later, he'll come up. I don't know how soon.''

STARTING TIME

Dodgers: Zach Lee looked sharp in his two innings, retiring six of seven batters and not allowing a hit. The 2010 draft pick is on the 40-man roster for the first time this spring.

Brewers: Garza had a 19.06 ERA after three Cactus League starts last year, but was ready by April. His numbers look better after one start this year, because two Milwaukee errors played a role in a five-run second.

''Garza didn't make some good pitches after (the errors) but it changes the inning,'' Roenicke said. ''I thought the ball came out nice, the velocity and the location were good and I saw some good sliders from him. It's hard to say you're pleased, but I thought he threw the ball OK.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: Zack Greinke threw to live hitters for the first time Friday, making 36 pitches on the back fields at Camelback Ranch. Greinke, who had a lubricating injection into his right elbow about two weeks ago, reported no problems. He is scheduled to make his first start on March 11 against the Cubs.

Brewers: INF Adam Lind has been bothered by back spasms and was a scratch Friday. ... Pitcher Jimmy Nelson's hamstring is good to go after throwing live batting practice Thursday and he will make his first start on Monday against Kansas City. He has added a curveball to his fastball and sinker this spring to give hitters something off-speed to deal with.

BRAUN GETS A BREAK

Brewers star Ryan Braun got the day off, and will play Saturday against the Rangers. He walked in his only at-bat on Thursday in a 3-2 loss to the Angels. Roenicke said he didn't ask Braun how his right thumb, which has bothered him the last two years, felt at the plate.

DOGGONE IT!

Nothing went right for the Brewers on Friday. Even the spring version of Milwaukee's popular Sausage Race got off to an inauspicious start with a photo finish and an unexpected tumble.

The Hot Dog character got his legs entangled with the Bratwurst and went tumbling into the metal chairs used by the coaches alongside the Brewers' dugout.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: Mike Bolsinger will make his spring debut against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday in Goodyear.

Brewers: Wily Peralta will take the mound for the first time Saturday against the Texas Rangers.

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