Samardzija hit hard by Brewers

PHOENIX – Jim Edmonds hit a two-run homer to strengthen his case for making Milwaukee’s Opening Day roster, and the Brewers beat a Cubs split-squad, 12-3, on Friday.

Edmonds, who finished with two hits and scored twice, agreed to a minor league deal with the Brewers on Jan. 28. The 39-year-old outfielder with eight Gold Gloves is a career .284 hitter with 382 homers and 1,176 RBIs in 16 seasons, but took last year off after playing most of the 2008 season with the Cubs.

“I don’t feel any different than I did five years ago, actually I feel better,” Edmonds said. “Everybody says, ‘Your age, your age, your age’ – I felt 50 years old when I was 35, so it doesn’t really (matter). You go through years where it’s just tough to stay healthy and stay focused and it’s a grind. And when it’s a grind the game will beat you down.”

Edmonds and Gregg Zaun hit consecutive homers in the first inning off Jeff Samardzija, who gave up four runs in the first and was gone after the second.

“He’s always had that swing for as long as I can remember,” Samardzija said of Edmonds. “Certain things you can’t lose, it’s like riding a bike. I’m sure for him, going out there and hitting fastballs isn’t too hard to pick back up.”

Jody Gerut, also looking to solidify his role in the outfield, hit a two-run homer in the fifth. Edmonds, Gerut and Carlos Gomez are competing to be Milwaukee’s starting center fielder.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella stayed behind while half of his team headed 270 miles northwest for a pair of games against the White Sox in Las Vegas, joking that he sent bench coach Alan Trammell to hang with Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.

Piniella instead got to watch another Cubs nemesis in Edmonds, who hit a drive to deep center field. Zaun followed with a shot just over the leaping Jim Adduci in right field.

Doug Davis, the second new arm in the Brewers’ rotation, gave up a run in three innings. Milwaukee backed the left-hander with two double plays.