PIT@LAD: Capuano fans seven over 5 1/3 innings
Ron Roenicke says it’s not a big deal.
“If I’m not thinking about it,” the Brewers skipper said, “it’s probably not an issue.”
During a Spring Training affair, Dodgers hurler Chris Capuano, who pitched for Milwaukee for five seasons, sailed a pitch behind Brewers slugger Ryan Braun, who had taken the southpaw deep earlier in the game.
Capuano will return to the mound against his former squad on Wednesday. He’s not concerned about the spring shenanigans, and he’s no longer feeling at all conflicted about facing his former squad.
The southpaw reflected on his previous outings versus the Brewers, against whom Capuano posted a 1-0 record and 4.63 ERA in two starts last season.
“It was a little more emotional than I thought it was going to be,” Capuano said. “I didn’t think it would be a big deal, but it got me a little anxious. But everybody seemed so supportive and were rooting for me. The fans treated me really well. And it was nice pitching here again, being comfortable with the field and the mound.”
Capuano will have to be more careful with how he approaches Braun. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly spoke highly of the left fielder, whom he said he expects to receive a lot of intentional walks this season without Prince Fielder protecting him in Milwaukee’s lineup.
“He’s a tough out. He’s flat-out dangerous,” Mattingly said. “He hits like Matt [Kemp]. He gets on base, he steals bags. It seems like he gets you at big moments. Last year, we tried to say those guys [Braun and Fielder] aren’t beating us. I think he’s going to get pitched differently this year. He had two intentional walks last year. That’s going to change. The guy behind him is an RBI guy, but not Prince.”
Dodgers: Mattingly OK with Gordon’s progress• Dee Gordon is hitting just .205 with a .271 on-base percentage out of the leadoff spot. Nevertheless, Mattingly said Gordon’s growing pains are something he’s “prepared to live with.”
“You can’t sit there and say, ‘Just change it right now,'” Mattingly said. “He’s taking the 3-1 and 2-0 pitches he needs to take. If he gains an inch a day, by the end of the year he’s gained a lot.”
Brewers: Rotation off to inconsistent start• Zack Greinke, who will start Wednesday, surrendered eight runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings in his most recent outing, an 8-0 loss to the Cubs. That came on the heels of his first start, in which he blanked the Cardinals through seven innings.
Inconsistency has plagued much of Milwaukee’s staff. Randy Wolf has a 10.61 ERA through two starts, and he has allowed 18 hits in 9 1/3 innings. Chris Narveson has a 7.00 ERA through two outings. Yovani Gallardo allowed six runs in his first start, but has surrendered a total of three in his last two outings.
“I think you go through stretches all through the year where you’re not on top of your game, and right now we’re going through that stretch,” Roenicke said. “It hasn’t been every game. We’ve had a couple of real nice starts.”
In two career outings against the Dodgers, Greinke is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA.
• Third baseman Aramis Ramirez spoke with Roenicke on Tuesday about his slow start. The veteran is hitting just .103 with no home runs.
“It’s a slow start for him. He’s not happy where he is [statistically],” Roenicke said. “He came in and talked to me [Tuesday]. He wants to do something to help contribute to this team winning, and he feels that he isn’t doing that right now.”
Worth noting• The Dodgers will have the ninth overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. The Brewers will have the 27th and 28th overall selections.
• Brewers pitching prospect Tyler Thornburg pitched to within five outs of a perfect game for Double-A Huntsville on Monday.
