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MILWAUKEE -- Ryan Braun stepped into the batters box, admittedly a bit anxious. Brian Cushing Jersey . The sellout crowd at Miller Park quickly put him at ease, showering him with a standing ovation. First day back on the job after a drug suspension was already a day to remember for the Brewers slugger. Then he added another unique footnote to his career. Braun went 1 for 4 and stole a base that helped set up a two-run inning, and later was ruled out in the first call overturned under baseballs expanded replay system as Milwaukee beat the Atlanta Braves 2-0 on Monday in a season opener. The former MVP was returning from suspension for the final 65 games last year in the Biogenesis doping scandal. Played his first game as a right fielder, too. What a way to start the season. "It was special. It was an emotional moment for me," Braun said. Braun said the ovation affected him. He flied out to left. "Swung at some pitches that I typically dont swing at, but its something that Im very thankful for and very appreciative," Braun said. Among the 45,691 people in attendance was Commissioner Bud Selig. Two years ago, Braun became the first MLB player to get a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs overturned. Originally banned for 50 games, he filed a grievance and won. "Fans are fans. Thats the way its supposed to be. Hes their hometown player and it was a wonderful reaction. I wish everybody well," Selig said. Later, Braun had his infield single to lead off the sixth overturned to out after the call was challenged by Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez under Major League Baseballs new replay format. The review took 58 seconds. "I had a pretty good idea that I was out," Braun said, drawing laughs. "For all of us, we just hope they get it right, and they did get it right." Yovani Gallardo (1-0) tossed six shutout innings for the win. He allowed just four hits in becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to make five straight opening day starts. A Braves lineup being relied on to help overcome the adversity to the injury-plagued pitching staff was silenced. Andrelton Simmons finished with two hits. "You go up there, your third at-bat and (Gallardo) will throw you something completely different," said cleanup hitter Chris Johnson, who went 1 for 4 with a double. "Where did that come from? ... Hes one of the tougher guys in the league." In a bit of a surprise, Francisco Rodriguez struck out two in the ninth for his 305th career save. The veteran righty looked fine about two weeks after accidentally stepping on a cactus during spring training. Manager Ron Roenicke said he turned to Rodriguez because Jim Henderson, who had 28 saves last season, was having a little trouble of late with his stuff. He hoped a couple outings outside the ninth would help Henderson get straightened out. With injuries to pitchers including Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, Atlanta started Julio Teheran (0-1) after a nice spring. He allowed seven hits in six innings. "For his first start, for his first opening day, I thought he did a terrific job," Gonzalez said. But all eyes in Miller Park were on Braun to start after the 2011 NL MVP played his first game since July 21. He was banned the next day. It seemed like all was forgiven for most in attendance. Brauns hit and steal set up a two-run double by Aramis Ramirez in the fourth. "Its special, we all know what he went through last year," Ramirez said. "For the fans to do that, it was very special." Braun and Ramirez also missed time last season because of injuries. With their third- and fourth-place hitters back, the Brewers like their chances with an offence that also features the speedy Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura at the top of the order. If the rest of the starting rotation throws like Gallardo, Milwaukee could challenge St. Louis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in the NL Central. NOTES: A trio of Wisconsin-born Olympians from the 2014 Winter Games in Russia threw out the ceremonial first pitches: Brianna Decker and Jessica Vetter were each members of the U.S. womens hockey team that won silver, while Matt Antoine won the bronze in the skeleton competition. ... Injured RHP Gavin Floyd and LHP Mike Minor are on the same rehab program in the minors for the Braves. Both are scheduled to throw Thursday and then go every fifth day barring any setbacks. The Braves plan to shuffle them between Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi. ... With four strikeouts, Gallardo assumed sole possession of second place on the teams career strikeout list with 1,084. Ben Sheets is first with 1,206 strikeouts. Bruce Ellington Jersey . -- Jesse Lussier scored 8:24 into overtime as the Halifax Mooseheads erased a four-goal deficit to beat the host Val-dOr Foreurs 6-5 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. Ka imi Fairbairn Jersey . Hollis-Jefferson went 5-for-6 from the field and added six rebounds, while Stanley Jefferson contributed 14 points for the Wildcats, who used their trademark tough defense to dominate the games final 24 minutes and advance to Tuesdays winners bracket matchup with Kansas State. http://www.thetexansfootballpro.us/texans-ryan-gri...authent ic/ .m. on Friday. Granger was acquired from the Indiana Pacers last Thursday for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen, but never played a minute for Philadelphia. The 76ers also received a 2015 second-round draft pick in the deal.TORONTO - Toronto FC has left captain Seven Caldwell and three other starters unprotected for Wednesdays MLS expansion draft.Caldwell, the leader of Torontos defence, was made available to Orlando City SC and New York City FC along with fullback Mark Bloom, Brazilian midfielder Jackson and Ghanaian midfielder-forward Dominic Oduro.MLS teams were allowed to protect 11 players, with Homegrown players also exempt.Orlando and New York City will each select 10 players from the 18 other MLS clubs.A club can lose no more than two players in the draft. If a team has a player claimed, it can protect an additional player.Toronto is no doubt hoping that the age and salary of Caldwell will deter the two expansion teams. The 34-year-old Scots salary was listed at US$364,166 last season.But the protected lists do not always tell the whole story. Often deals are made with expansion teams to return talent.Veteran Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario, whose 2015 option was not picked up, is also available on Torontos unprotected list. Bloom, a bargain starter at $48,825, may get some attention Wednesday along with promising young TFC winger Daniel Lovitz.Montreal didnt protect Canadian international midfielder Issey Nakajjima-Farran, who criticized the team for being too predictable in post-season remarks, and defender Heath Pearce, who started 20 regular-season games in 2014. Tom Savage Jersey . The Impact have said they would not sign 35-year-old defender Matteo Ferrari and 33-year-old goalie Troy Perkins, who are both unprotected.Montreal did protect 35-year-old Canadian midfielder Patrice Bernier, who is still in contract talks with the club.The Whitecaps unprotected list includes Mamadou Diouf, Sebastian Fernandez, Gabriel Mezquida, Carlyle Mitchell, Andy OBrien, and Mauro Rosales.The New York Red Bulls left unprotected designated players Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry, the French star who said recently he was leaving MLS. The 35-year-old Cahill made $3.65 million last season.Portland made veteran goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts ($260,000) available and Seattle opted not to protect veteran striker Kenny Cooper ($265,625). New England has dangled 19-year-old Uruguayan forward Diego Fagundez.D.C. United made available Canadian international defender Nana Attakora and midfielder Kyle Porter, as well as former Montreal Impact midfielder Davy Arnaud.___With files from Bill Beacon in MontrealFollow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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