PHOENIX-
For once, Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Dave Bush was happy to draw a morning minor league assignment instead of pitching in the Cactus League game later Thursday.
Bush had already gotten in his six innings of work during the intrasquad game in the minor league camp before the Brewers’ exhibition game with Colorado was stopped after three innings by a hail storm and heavy rains.
“With what happened here, I’m glad I got my work in,” said Bush, who probably will open the season as the Brewers’ No. 4 starter.
Brewers manager Ned Yost wanted young right-hander Carlos Villanueva to work the game against the Rockies, but Villanueva’s outing was shortened by the sudden storm. He surrendered a two-run homer to Colorado third baseman John Mabry, the only runs scored before play was stopped.
Yost said the first hail pellet came as a surprise when it hit him.
“I was looking down at my lineup card and I thought somebody threw some gum at me,” he said.
Within minutes, the field was covered by hail as fans scurried to look for cover at Maryvale Baseball Park. The storm then turned to a heavy downpour and the grounds crew could only get the tarp over three-fourths of the infield.
With more rain coming, the umpires called the game and the two teams headed for the clubhouses.
Right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim started for the Rockies and tossed three shutout innings before play was halted. He allowed only one hit, a single by Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy, who also walked and stole a base.
Reliever Brian Shouse also pitched in the minor-league game started by Bush, who allowed only one run during his six-inning stint.
“I still felt strong at the end, which is a good sign for me,” said Bush.
