Brewers Spring Training Notes: Hoffman throws for first time, Brewers beat Cleveland 5-4

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PHOENIX - Milwaukee Brewers’ closer Trevor Hoffman threw to batters yesterday for the first time this spring. He had a bullpen session in which he tossed 35 pitches to a half-dozen hitters. The 42-year-old Hoffman has been limited to bullpen work to keep him fresh for the regular season. He’ll make his exhibition debut on Friday, and he’s not sure how many games he’ll need to get ready for Opening Day. Hoffman has had minor stiffness in his back, and the Brewers are trying to avoid what happened last season – when he missed the first month of the regular season after he strained an oblique muscle. Hoffman is baseball’s all-time saves leader, and he had 37 last year in his first season with the Brew Crew.

The Brewers beat Cleveland 5-4 yesterday in an exhibition game in Phoenix. Yovani Gallardo took a no-hitter into the fourth inning, when former Milwaukee prospect Michael Brantley broke it up with a single. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by another ex-Brewer prospect, Matt LaPorta. The Brewers got all their runs in the first four innings off Indians’ starter David Huff. Third baseman Adam Heether doubled twice and scored both times. Gregg Zaun and Alcides Escobar drove in a run each for Milwaukee, which improved to 8-and-6 in Cactus League play. The Brewers will play Kansas City this afternoon. Left-hander Chris Narveson will start against Royals’ right-hander Gil Meche.

The Brewers cut four players yesterday. Right-handers Mark Rogers and Amaury Rivas were sent to Double-“A” Huntsville. Left-hander A-J Murray and catcher Martin Maldonado were sent to the Brewers’ minor league camp. Rogers is Milwaukee’s first-round draft choice from 2004, and he’s trying to come back from shoulder operations that kept him out for the entire 2007-and-’08 seasons. Rogers gave up no runs and three hits in a pair of exhibition appearances that covered four innings. Brewers’ manager Ken Macha said Rogers has worked very hard on his comeback. Rivas was the Milwaukee organization’s minor-league pitcher-of-the-year last season. He gave up three runs on five hits in three innings of three games. Macha said Rivas needs more work on his slider.

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