Brewers lose to Cubs split squad in Lucroy's spring debut


PHOENIX (AP) -- Jonathan Lucroy made his spring debut Saturday and said he had no problems with a hamstring injury that had kept him out for four weeks and Adam Lind homered in just his second game, but the Milwaukee Brewers lost to a Chicago Cubs split squad 10-5.
"I had some pitches to block, a long inning and everything felt good," Lucroy said. "No one ran, so I didn't get to try (my arm) out. I didn't let loose running, I didn't want to blow out (the hamstring) running out a routine ground ball. I ran after the game and there were no problems."
Matt Szczur had two hits, including his third home run of the spring, for Chicago. Mike Olt, Wellington Castillo and Adron Chambers each had two RBI in the Cubs' seven-run third.
Edwin Jackson allowed one hit in three innings for Chicago.
Jimmy Nelson allowed five runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings.
"One real bad inning," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "I liked the way Jimmy threw. He was down in the zone. But that one inning, everything they hit was perfectly placed. It wasn't line drives all over the park."
Lind was out with back spasms for a week. He played his first game Thursday and was 2 for 3 Saturday, both as the designated hitter. Lucroy, the All-Star catcher, was hitless in one at-bat.
Also in camp for Milwaukee was All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez, who finalized his two-year, $13 million contract Saturday morning.
Starting time: Lucroy on Nelson: "He really looked good. He made some mistakes up in the zone, but when he's down, he's a groundball guy," Lucroy said. "His fastball was good and he threw some good curves and changes in the pen."
Relief for Brewers: Rodriguez arrived in Arizona Friday and passed his physical. He threw off the mound Saturday for the first time since last season and should be ready to pitch in a game within a week. Rodriguez said he turned down another offer with more guaranteed money to stay in Milwaukee.
"I already learned my lesson once and I didn't want to go through the experience I had before," said Rodriguez, who struggled in Baltimore in 2013 in between his two stints with Milwaukee. "I've made a lot of money over my career, so it's not about money. It's about peace and feeling comfortable in a place. You can't buy peace."
Trainer's room: Ryan Braun, who had been playing every other day, sat out Saturday after missing his normal start Friday with the flu. He will play Sunday in Maryvale against the Oakland A's. Braun is 0 for 7 in his return from offseason thumb surgery.
Up next: RHP Kyle Lohse will start in Maryvale against Oakland. Lohse will also bat for the first time. A split squad will face the Texas Rangers in Surprise with Taylor Jungmann pitching.