Braun exits finale with right oblique soreness

ATLANTA - Ryan Braun left after the fourth inning of Thursday night's 5-4 loss to the Braves with right oblique soreness. Elian Herrera pinch-hit for Braun in the top of the fifth and played right field.

"Oblique soreness," manager Ron Roenicke said. "It was concern that he was going to hurt it."

Braun came off the disabled list on May 13 after missing 14 games due to a right ribcage strain he suffered on April 26. He is batting .212 (7-for-33) in eight games since his return, and hit .133 (2-for-15) with a double, a solo home run and two strikeouts in the four-game series in Atlanta.

Milwaukee recalled Herrera from Triple-A Nashville the same day they activated Braun from the DL. Herrera entered Thursday night batting .250 (11-for-44) with a walk and 16 strikeouts in two separate Major League stints this season.