BREWERS Braun back in form

PHOENIX - Ryan Braun hit a two-run home run Thursday in his first at-bat for the Milwaukee Brewers since completing a season-ending, 65-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s anti-drug agreement.

In the first inning of Milwaukee’s spring opener against Oakland, Braun hit an 0-1 pitch off Tommy Milone high over the wall near the left field corner, 345 feet away. The 2011 NL MVP got a hearty round of cheers, the loudest coming from fans in the dozen rows or so behind the Brewers bench.

It was Braun’s first game in the Brewers’ lineup since July 21, 2013. The five-time All-Star accepted a 65-game penalty the next day for his involvement with the Florida clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.

DODGERS

Greinke leaves start

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke left his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday after throwing just four pitches because of a mild right calf strain.

Greinke, Los Angeles’ No. 2 starter, was making his first spring start after saying he had “zero interest” making the trip for the Dodgers’ two regular-season games in Sydney, Australia, on March 22-23 against Arizona.

YANKEES Jeter goes hitless

TAMPA, Fla. - Derek Jeter got a partial standing ovation Thursday before going hitless in two at-bats in the first spring training game of his final season, a New York Yankees’ 8-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Yankees captain, who turns 40 in June, hit a double-play grounder to second off Pittsburgh right-hander Charlie Morton in the first and grounded out to third during the fourth against left-hander Jeff Locke.

Limited to 17 games last season due to leg injuries, Jeter was at shortstop in his first exhibition season appearance. He broke his left ankle in the 2012 AL championship series and did not appear at shortstop last spring training until March 13.

Jeter had just 11 at-bats in five games during spring training last year, stayed behind for rehabilitation at New York’s minor league complex and broke the ankle again. He returned to the Yankees on July 11 but wound up on the disabled list three more times.

BLUE JAYS

Bautista leads Jays

DUNEDIN, Fla. - Jose Bautista kept up his torrid start to the spring, hitting two doubles and driving in two runs Thursday that sent the Toronto Blue Jays over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5.

A day after hitting a long home run against the Phillies in his first at-bat of exhibition play, Bautista had an RBI double in the first inning off Philadelphia ace Cliff Lee (Benton, Arkansas Razorbacks).

Bautista finished 2 for 2 with a walk. The former two-time major league home run champion missed the final six weeks last year because of a hip injury.

Jose Reyes, Brett Lawrie and Melky Cabrera also drove in runs for Toronto.

Philadelphia’s offense was powered by a pair of home runs from bench hopefuls: Darin Ruf hit a two-run shot in the third and John Mayberry Jr. had a solo drive in the sixth.

Blue Jays starter R.A. Dickey allowed one unearned run in two innings.

METS

Niese’s shoulder OK

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The New York Mets avoided their first serious issue of the preseason Thursday when pitcher Jon Niese was found to have “no shoulder problems at all” after undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging test in New York, Manager Terry Collins said.

“They said it actually looks better than it did last year at this time,” Collins said.

Earlier in camp, Niese complained about pain in his shoulder. It went away but returned recently. It concerned the Mets, especially because Niese missed about seven weeks last season with a partially torn rotator cuff. This pain, Collins said, was in a different area and evidently turned out to be less serious.

After the MRI, Collins said Niese was found to have weakness in his scapula area, but he characterized it as a minor issue. He expected Niese to return to camp and start throwing again in a few days. Before the scare, Niese was expected to make his first start Tuesday. Zack Wheeler will start in his place.

RANGERS

Wilson won’t play yet

SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Texas Rangers have no plans to put Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson at the plate.

Manager Ron Washington said it’s not a good idea to let Wilson hit in an exhibition game. Washington said Wilson hasn’t seen any pitches and that it’s too risky to have him bat.

The Seattle Seahawks quarterback is set to be at spring training on Monday and the former minor league second baseman might take part in infield drills. Washington said he wants Wilson to just enjoy his day at the ballpark.

Wilson is expected to participate in a team workout and then be in uniform for the game against Cleveland.

The quarterback played 93 games over two seasons in Colorado’s minor league system. He didn’t play above the Class A level in 2010 and 2011.

Texas selected Wilson from the Rockies in the Class AAA portion of baseball’s draft at the winter meetings in December.

Sports, Pages 21 on 02/28/2014