Brewers 8, Rangers 5

PHOENIX (AP)—Ben Sheets allowed three runs in three innings for Milwaukee during his third outing of the spring, and the Brewers rallied for an 8-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

Sheets is being brought along slowly following offseason back surgery. He gave up six hits, two walks and struck out four before he was lifted after 65 pitches.

“He feels strong. We’re not worried about results. We just want to get him ready for the start of the season,” Brewers manager Ned Yost said.

Trent Durrington hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning for Milwaukee, his first of the spring. The Australian native is trying to secure a spot as a utility man on the opening day roster for the second straight season.

Lyle Overbay also had two hits, and Geoff Jenkins added an RBI double to help Milwaukee end a four-game losing streak.

The highlight for Texas was a strong start by right-hander Ricardo Rodriguez, who boosted his bid for the No. 5 spot in the rotation by throwing five scoreless innings.

Rodriguez, whose 2004 season ended when a line drive broke his right elbow on July 22 at Anaheim, allowed two hits, walked one and struck out six.

Manny Alexander was 4-for-4 with three doubles and two runs scored for the Rangers. Alfonso Soriano, recovering from a flu bug that has worked its way through the Texas clubhouse, went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

Notes

RHP Pedro Astacio, also vying for a spot in the Rangers’ rotation, pitched in a Triple-A game against Milwaukee and gave up four hits and two runs, one earned, in 4 2-3 innings. Astacio walked one and struck out three.