Major League Baseball

Rangers-Brewers rained out

Published Mar. 19, 2012 2:17 a.m. ET

foxsports

The game between the Milwaukee Brewers and a Texas Rangers split squad was rained out in the fourth inning on Sunday.

In the Brewers' four-run third inning, Nyjer Morgan singled and was stopped at third when Aramis Ramirez's line drive down the left-field line hopped over the bullpen wall, hit a fence and came back onto the field for a ground-rule double.

Mat Gamel followed with a high pop fly that fell between three players. Ian Kinsler picked up the ball but threw wildly to second, leaving Gamel safe and allowing Morgan and Ramirez to score.

Then came Caleb Gindl's triple high off the left-field wall. Craig Gentry tracked the ball to the warning track and ran into the fence, causing the gate to the visiting bus area to swing open as Gamel came home.

The next batter, Cesar Izturis, bunted foul an attempted suicide squeeze on the first pitch he saw from Michael Kirkman.

Then the Brewers tried it again, with Gamel beating Kirkman's scoop from his glove to catcher Brett Nicholas. Izturis was safe when he was hit in the shoulder by Nicholas' throw to first.

And after Kirkman finally got the final out, rain started to fall for the first time all afternoon.

Manny Parra came on to pitch a scoreless top of the fourth but one pitch into the bottom of the inning, the umpires called for the tarp and the game was called after a 12-minute delay with Milwaukee leading 6-4.

David Murphy and Brad Hawpe hit two-run homers for Texas.

Brewers right-hander Tyler Thornberg started in place of Zack Greinke, who pitched in a simulated game because of the forecast.

NOTES: Texas started right-hander Robbie Rose for the first time this spring. 2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young and DH Mike Napoli were the only regulars in the split-squad lineup. ... Brewers RHP Shawn Marcum threw 30 pitches over two simulated innings early Sunday and may be ready to appear in his first spring training game. Marcum has been working through shoulder inflammation early in camp and needed anti-inflammatory injection. ... Before the game, the Brewers optioned RHP Mark Rogers, RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Amaury Rivas and RHP Wily Peralta to Triple-A Nashville. Milwaukee also optioned RHP Santa Manzanillo to Double-A Huntsville. After the game, infielders Zealous Wheeler and Eric Farris were optioned to Nashville.