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Wolf looks impressive

PHOENIX — Milwaukee’s biggest offseason acquisition is working on a nice spring with his new team.

Randy Wolf struck out four in three scoreless innings Thursday, but Gabe Gross hit a two-run triple against his former team in the seventh and Michael Taylor added a three-run homer in the eighth to power the Oakland Athletics to a 7-3 win over a Brewers split-squad.

Ryan Braun had a two-run homer for Milwaukee.

Wolf agreed to a $29.75 million, three-year deal during December’s winter meetings and has not allowed a run in five innings this spring. But the left-hander’s latest outing was far from perfect. He gave up two singles to Mark Ellis and leadoff walks to begin the second and third innings.

Wolf struck out the side in the second after walking Daric Barton to start the inning and got out of trouble in the third, too, despite walking A’s starter Dallas Braden.

“To me, it was a positive spring training outing,” Wolf said. “Usually, historically this time at spring training, I’m searching more than I am right now. I feel like I have an idea of how to fix things.”

Wolf is considered a key to Milwaukee’s hopes this season. The Brewers brought Rick Peterson in as pitching coach and signed Wolf and Doug Davis this offseason.

Milwaukee went 80-82 last year in large part because of the rotation’s major league-worst 5.37 ERA and so far the revamped group of starters has given up six runs in 20 innings. Wolf said the spring numbers are meaningless, but Peterson’s philosophy is important.

“I know that Rick has come in here and his goal is to put an importance on pitching and put the pride back in the pitching staff and really instill that confidence in us,” Wolf said. “We can’t do anything as a team unless we pitch well.”

n Reds 3, Brewers 1 (ss)—At Goodyear, Ariz., Chris Capuano’s return to the major leagues hit a road bump Thursday.

Joey Votto homered off Capuano, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-1 victory over a Milwaukee Brewers split-squad on Thursday.

The first baseman was 0 for 9 before his long solo drive off the Brewers’ left-hander, who is trying to resume his career after elbow problems kept him out of the majors for the last two seasons.

The 31-year-old Capuano had reconstructive elbow surgery and is trying to get back to the majors for the first time since 2006, when he won 11 games for the Brewers. He pitched 2 1-3 innings against the Reds, giving up two runs, three hits and two walks.

Chris Dickerson, trying to fill Cincinnati’s opening in left field, had a run-scoring triple following a walk to Laynce Nix.

“The walk to Nix was very costly,” manager Ken Macha said. “I don’t worry about Joey Votto’s home run because he can hit. He isn’t the first or last guy to hit a home run off him. He was free and easy, but he got (deep) into his pitch count, so they worked him pretty good.”

Chris Narveson started for the Brewers and gave up one hit and one walk in three scoreless innings, striking out three.

“Narveson was very good,” Macha said. “He had two baserunners, but threw a double-play ball. All of his pitches were working. His location was good.”

Jim Edmonds, in the Brewers’ camp as a non-roster player, had a pair of hits.

n Cubs 8, Padres 7—At Peoria, Ariz., Carlos Silva looks forward to coming to the ballpark these days.

Silva threw three scoreless innings after making an adjustment during a bullpen session, helping the Chicago Cubs beat San Diego.

Silva, acquired from Seattle for Milton Bradley and cash in December, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out none.

“I was excited to be in there again,” Silva said.

“To be honest, the last two years have been hard for me to show up at the stadium.”

Silva said he is still adjusting to a new element in his delivery which changes the landing zone for his left foot and forces him to throw more across his body. The right-hander tried the change during a session with pitching coach Larry Rothschild this week.

“I’ve got to keep working to get more consistent,” Silva said. “The change allows me to finish my pitch. I can see the difference. I haven’t had that sinker action in a long time.”

Silva signed a $48 million, four-year contract with Seattle before the 2008 season but went 5-18 with a 6.81 ERA in two years with the Mariners. He allowed six runs and seven hits over two innings in his first start this spring Saturday against the Chicago White Sox.

Starlin Castro, one of Chicago’s top prospects, had two hits and scored three times. The shortstop hit his first homer of the spring in the fifth.