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Bush bounced back from a shaky start to pitch five solid innings and Villanueva covered the rest of the difference as the Brewers held on for a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday.
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Milwaukee Brewers starter Dave Bush releases a pitch during the first inning of his start against the San Diego Padres in a spring training baseball game Friday, March 21, 2008, in Phoenix. Bush went five innings, allowing two runs and four hits while striking out five. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) |
Ryan Braun, who had missed several games because of an Achilles’ tendon injury, hit a three-run homer in his return.
Bush allowed four hits, two walks and two runs while striking out five. Villanueva allowed four hits and one run over his four-inning stint, with one walk and four strikeouts.
“’Bushie’ is doing fine,” said Brewers manager Ned Yost, who has three spots to fill in the rotation and four candidates vying for those spots. “He has been in a competitive mode the last three weeks.
“I thought they both changed speeds well. A lot of foul balls contributed to (Villanueva’s) pitch count but he threw some nice change-ups and breaking balls.”
Ace right-hander Jake Peavy started for the Padres and surrendered six hits, three walks and four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Peavy struck out five.
“I’ve got mixed thoughts,” said Peavy, who will be San Diego’s opening day pitcher. “Obviously, you want better results than I got. But, having said that, I did get some stuff accomplished today.
“I believe I got much better as the game went on, and that’s something I’m pleased with.”
Bush and Peavy both had shaky first innings. The Padres struck for two runs in the top of the first when Kevin Kouzmanoff homered with two down, Tony Clark walked and Paul McAnulty doubled him in.
The Brewers came right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning on one hit. Peavy issued a pair of walks, then served up a three-run blast to Braun, his fourth of the spring.
The Brewers boosted their lead to 4-2 on consecutive one-out doubles off Peavy in the fifth by Craig Counsell and Mike Cameron. The Padres came back with a run in the sixth off Villanueva on an RBI single by Josh Bard.
Villanueva pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth to pick up the save.
Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks missed his fourth consecutive game with a sore right hand. Yost said he expected Weeks back in the lineup either Saturday or Sunday.
Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy, out all week with flu-like symptoms, returned to camp but was too weak to play. Hardy said he lost 10 pounds while remaining in bed for four days.
Right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who had minor knee surgery at the start of camp, saw his first game action of the spring for the Brewers with two innings in a minor-league intrasquad game. Gallardo had no problems but was later placed on the 15-day disabled list.
The Brewers made two players moves after the game, optioning left-hander Mitch Stetter and catcher Vinny Rottino to Triple-A Nashville.
