11-25-2019, 01:34 AM
PHILADELPHIA -- All Ryan Braun needed to shake his slump was a trip to Philadelphia. Cecil Cooper Jersey . Braun hit three home runs and tied a franchise record with seven RBIs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 10-4 victory Tuesday, spoiling the Phillies home opener. Braun connected twice off Kyle Kendrick (0-1), snapping the longest homerless drought of his career. The 2011 NL MVP came in with only three singles in 20 at-bats this season. But Braun, who is bothered by a right thumb injury, felt just fine -- as usual -- in Philadelphia. He has 10 homers and 21 RBIs in 20 career games at Citizens Bank Park. "Its a good ballpark to hit in," Braun said. "And, I enjoy competing against Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard." Coming off a three-game sweep of the World Series champion Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, the Brewers won their fourth straight game and improved to 5-2. Kyle Lohse (1-1) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings, walking five. Braun was booed in his first game in Philly since serving a 65-game suspension for violations of Major League Baseballs drug agreement and labour contract. He also got an earful last week in Boston. It didnt bother him. "Its very motivating," Braun said. "Its nothing new for me." He hit a three-run shot to left in the third to put the Brewers up 4-1, ending his streak of 98 plate appearances without a homer. He hadnt hit one since May 22, 2013, against the Dodgers. Brauns solo homer in the fourth made it 6-1. He then launched a three-run drive off Brad Lincoln in the eighth. "Hes a special player," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "Theres no better way to silence the crowd." Braun also turned in a defensive gem. He saved two runs with a diving catch on Carlos Ruizs sinking liner to right to end the second inning. "That was a big play," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "It changed the momentum." The game was scheduled for Monday afternoon, but was postponed Sunday because of a rainy forecast. It was sunny and 62 degrees at first pitch, but windy enough to cancel the Navy parachuters who deliver ceremonial baseballs. Former Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer, now a broadcaster, threw out the first pitch. It was brought to him by his boyhood idol, Hall of Famer pitcher Steve Carlton. The Phillies couldve used them on the mound against the Brewers. "We didnt have an answer for Braun," Sandberg said. Kendrick allowed six runs -- four earned -- and nine hits in five innings. Jimmy Rollins had an RBI double in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth to get the Phillies to 6-4. Five-time All-Star second baseman Chase Utley wasnt at the ballpark because of the flu. He was replaced in Philadelphias lineup by rookie Cesar Hernandez. A sellout crowd of 45,061 enjoyed the pregame festivities that included the traditional mini-parade that leads players into the ballpark from the street behind the stands in left-centre field. Players and coaches walked in, mingled with the crowd and high-fived fans lined up along the red carpet in the outfield. NOTES: Brauns other three-homer game was against San Diego on April 30, 2012. ... Eight Brewers have had seven RBIs in a game. Jonathan Lucroy was the last to do it on Aug. 30, 2012. ... Phillies LHP Cole Hamels said he could be ready to join the rotation after two more rehab starts in the minors. Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, was slowed by shoulder discomfort in spring training. Hes scheduled to pitch Friday night for Class-A Clearwater. ... Braun passed Geoff Jenkins for third place on the Brewers career list with 214 homers. He has 17 home runs and 37 RBIs in 44 career games vs. the Phillies. ... Rollins already has eight RBIs, one more than he had last April. ... RHP Matt Garza (0-1, 1.13 ERA) takes the mound for the Brewers on Wednesday night. Roberto Hernandez (1-0, 3.38) goes for Philadelphia. Garza is 2-1 with a 1.30 ERA in five career starts against the Phillies. Hernandez will make his first start vs. Milwaukee. Junior Guerra Brewers Jersey . RAPTORS STRUGGLING: The bottom line is the true test in sports isnt just how you handle failure, but how you handle success. Teddy Higuera Brewers Jersey . According to a report from ESPN, the veteran safety has signed another one-year deal with the team Raiders, the team that drafted him, and who he returned to last year after a long stint with the Green Bay Packers. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/179y-mike-m...ewers.html . Dane Dobbie and Shawn Evans each had two goals and two assists for the Roughnecks (8-5), who outscored Minnesota 6-2 in the fourth quarter after being tied through 45 minutes. Curtis Dickson scored once and set up three more for Calgary and Dan MacRae, Geoff Snider, Tor Reinholdt, Karsen Leung and Matthew Dinsdale.TORONTO – He was nowhere to be found in the fall of 2013. While the first day of Maple Leafs training camp got underway at the Mastercard Centre in west Toronto, Cody Franson sat at home in his apartment, waiting for 3pm practice with the Ryerson Rams. He was mired in the second of three contract struggles, this one finally coming to a close on Sept. 26, less than a week before the start of the regular season. "It was really weird," he recalled of the experience. "Ive had a couple negotiations go close to the wire, but never where I anticipated that Id actually have to leave, pack up my bags and actually leave the rink the day before camp rather than just feeling like somethings going to get done. That was an odd feeling to wrap my head around. Its unfortunate that thats the way that it had to go, but thats the business sometimes." Franson remained a restricted free agent this past offseason and though it took the threat of arbitration, he and the Leafs were able to come to terms on yet another one-year deal, this one for $3.3 million. And so unlike last fall and the fall before that, the now 27-year-old defender begins what he agrees is the most important season of his NHL career without a contract hiccup to worry about. "I think Franny knows and feels that he has to have a better season than he did last year," said head coach, Randy Carlyle following the first day of on-ice workouts. "When a guy misses camp it can have an effect over the course of an 82-game schedule that he doesnt start well or he has more valleys than peaks. We saw that and we experienced that with Cody Franson for periods of time [last season] and hell be the first one to admit it." Franson describes his 2013-14 campaign as an inconsistent picture, on point some nights, not so much on others. He bounced between a rotating cast of defence partners and troubled defensive strategy, ultimately unable to fulfill the top-four role (and increased competition) the club had hoped he might be capable of assuming. His possession numbers were amongst the best on the team and he remained the highest scoring defendeer in Toronto, but he never quite found the groove of a year earlier, when he broke out with 29 points in 45 games while holding down 19 minutes per night. Robin Yount Jersey. The stench of another collapse also lingered, almost to the point of no escape. Trips back home to tiny Sicamous, British Columbia this past summer brought with them the expected questions from friends and family, all curious as to how he and the Leafs could tumble so rapidly from a sure playoff position to yet another stinging miss last spring. "It just seems to be the common theme," he said of the meltdown, the third in as many years. That disastrous finish also left him wondering about his future in Toronto, especially precarious with new management in the fold. "When things happen like that you never know whats gonna happen," Franson said. "That opens a lot of doors that maybe typically wouldnt be open had we done well." His place with the organization has never really been all that secure. Signed to three one-year deals, each with a dispute of some kind, Franson has mostly been left wondering where exactly he fits in the Leafs big picture. And hed like to change that this season. In describing his goals for the coming year, Franson says he would like to keep up the offensive production, remain a physical presence, and become an improved all-around defender. Because the Leafs added Stephane Robidas and Roman Polak in the offseason, Carlyle may be able to employ him in a less demanding role, something closer to the third pairing duty and competition he excelled with in 2013 – be it alongside Morgan Rielly or Jake Gardiner. Set to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time next summer, Franson has a lot riding on the year that follows. Its not a stretch to call it the biggest season of his career. "Oh, definitely," he said. "With [unrestricted] free agency next year Im out to prove that I can do the job that they need me to do. This is where I want to be. Im hopeful that something can get done. Ive got to have a big year in order for that to happen." ' ' '