Braun ‘definitely’ out Sunday with calf strain

Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun expects to be named to the National League All-Star team on Sunday, but he does not expect play against the Twins after injuring his left leg during an eighth-inning groundout on Saturday night.

Braun hit a run-scoring groundout but strained his left calf muscle on his second step out of the batter’s box and had to leave the game. He watched from the training table as the Brewers scored four runs in the ninth inning to stun the Twins, 8-7, with pinch-hitter George Kottaras delivering the winning hit from Braun’s usual spot in the batting order.

“It’s pretty tight, pretty sore,” Braun said. “I’m definitely not playing [Sunday]. We’ll probably see where it’s at in a couple of days.”

He said the upper part of his calf and lower part of his hamstring were both sore, and walked around the clubhouse with a noticeable limp. The Brewers’ medical staff will re-examine Braun on Sunday morning, when the All-Star teams will be announced on TBS. Braun is positioned to make a fourth consecutive start in the National League’s outfield.

He was 1-for-4 in Saturday’s game including a fourth-inning double that extended Major League Baseball’s longest current hitting streak to 22 games. Braun has started all but two of the Brewers’ games this season.

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