Braun (rib cage), Pina (shoulder) exit vs. Cubs
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CHICAGO -- Ryan Braun was day to day with a tight right rib cage, and Manny Piña was headed back to Milwaukee for an MRI scan of his left shoulder in the wake of the Brewers' painful 8-4 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
A day after he smashed a a pair of home runs in a shutout victory, Braun felt discomfort in his side while attempting a sliding catch in the third inning and he departed in the fifth with what has been a recurring issue for the 34-year-old outfielder. Braun has endured two stints on the 10-day disabled list for what was officially termed back stiffness, but the second instance also involved his side.
"Hopefully we caught it soon enough," Braun said. "Anything in the rib cage is always kind of touch and go. You know more about it the next day."
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There was a sign something was amiss in the fourth inning, when Braun tried to bunt against Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks. When Braun's spot came up again in the fifth with runners on first and second, Hernán Pérez pinch-hit and grounded into a double play.
"I don't anticipate making a quick move with this one but if it lingers, we'll have to make a move," manager Craig Counsell said.
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The Brewers also lost banged-up catcher Pina in the seventh inning after he tangled at second base with Cubs All-Star Javier Báez. Pina was scrambling back to the bag after Christian Yelich's lineout when Baez made hard contact with Pina's left shoulder. Counsell and athletic trainer Dave Yaeger came out to check Pina, who remained in the game and scored one of Milwaukee's two runs in the inning. Erik Kratz took over behind the plate for the bottom of the seventh.
"I feel a little sore right now, my shoulder," Pina said. "The impact was right in the shoulder. Right after they took me out of the game, they did a couple of exercises, and I was fine. But after ice, it's sore a little bit."
When Baez impacted his shoulder, Pina said, "I felt it move around a little bit and popped it back. But that's the game. We always want to play hard and that's part of the game."