Brewers 7, Indians 4
Chris Narveson found his curveball Friday.
''It was a lot better - execution, tempo, the things I wanted to work on going in,'' the left-hander said after pitching the Milwaukee Brewers to a 7-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians. ''I'm ready for the regular season.''
Carlos Gomez hit a grand slam to cap a five-run sixth inning for Milwaukee. George Kottaras also homered and Rickie Weeks went 3 for 3.
Travis Hafner hit his first home run of the spring for the Indians, who had their six-game winning streak snapped.
Narveson was solid in his sixth appearance and fifth start, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out seven.
It was a considerable improvement upon his prior start, when Narveson struggled to find the feel of his curveball and allowed seven runs on nine hits in 4 1-3 innings.
''If you can throw it here, you can throw it anywhere,'' said Narveson, who had given up 11 runs and 15 hits in his previous nine innings. ''When you're trying to fight for that feel it's a little harder.''
Indians starter Mitch Talbot had a rocky outing, allowing seven runs and 14 hits in six innings. Talbot have up two home runs - Kottaras' solo shot in the fourth and Gomez's slam to center.
Talbot has an 8.61 ERA in six starts this spring.
''I felt this was Mitch's best game all spring,'' Indians manager Manny Acta said. ''Other than his two home runs they didn't hit him very hard. The life on his fastball was more encouraging than it has been all spring.''
Erick Almonte also had three hits for the Brewers.
Gomez has three homers to go with a .358 batting average this spring.
''He's put together some real good at-bats,'' Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. ''We don't expect him to do that the whole year but if he has the same approach, he'll have a good year.''
Hafner hit an opposite-field drive to left-center. Asdrubal Cabrera, Michael Brantley and Orlando Cabrera each had two hits for the Indians.
NOTES: Brewers 1B Prince Fielder was expected to miss his third straight game with a sinus infection but asked to play as a designated hitter to get some at-bats for the first time since Sunday. He finished 0 for 2 with a walk. ... In addition to trading for RHP Sergio Mitre, the Brewers made a handful of roster moves before the game. C Martin Maldonado was optioned to Triple-A Nashville, RHP Wily Peralta was optioned to Double-A Huntsville and RHP Zack Segovia was returned to minor league camp. ... After choosing RHP Justin Tomlin as their fifth starter, the Indians optioned LHP David Huff, RHP Jeanmar Gomez and OF Ezequiel Carrera to Triple-A Columbus. RHP Anthony Reyes and RHP Doug Mathis were reassigned to minor league camp.