Braun hits 2 HRs, Capuano strong for 6 innings before injury as Brewers beat Marlins 7-1

Braun homers twice, Capuano, Brewers beat Marlins

MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun hit two of Milwaukee’s four home runs and Chris Capuano pitched six sharp innings before leaving with an injury Sunday as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Florida Marlins 7-1.

Capuano (4-4) limited the Marlins to one run and four hits. He came out to start the seventh, but left the mound after a couple of warmup tosses because of a strained left groin.

Braun hit a pair of two-run homers and Prince Fielder and Lorenzo Cain also connected for Milwaukee.

Capuano gave up a sacrifice fly to Gaby Sanchez in the first, but little else. He walked one and struck out one.

Capuano missed all of 2008 and 2009 after undergoing surgery on his left elbow for the second time in his career. He replaced an ineffective Manny Parra in the rotation at the end of August.

Braun homered off Adalberto Mendez (1-2) after Rickie Weeks walked in the Brewers first. After Corey Hart walked in the third, Braun hit his 25th home run. Braun became the third Brewers player in franchise history with 100 RBIs in three straight seasons.

After Braun answered the crowd’s curtain call with a wave of his helmet from the dugout steps, Fielder followed with his 32nd home run. That ended the day for Mendez, a 28-year-old rookie who made his fourth start.

Fielder got a standing ovation when he came to bat in the eighth and walked in what could be his last home appearance. He received even more cheers when Alcides Escobar pinch-ran for him.

Fielder came out to acknowledge the fans with a tip of his helmet. He will be a free agent after 2011 and has refused attempts to extend his contract. He may be used in trade talks to land a starting pitcher.

The Brewers went 40-41 at Miller Park for the second straight year.

Cain came back to the dugout obviously pumped after hitting his first major league home run in the second, but got the silent treatment from his teammates for a few moments before they jumped off the bench and congratulated him. It’s the second stint for the rookie center fielder after being recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Aug. 6 when Carlos Gomez went on the disabled list with a concussion.

Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth, which gave the crowd another chance to salute the all-time saves leader who notched his 600th save on Aug. 7 against St. Louis. His two-year contract expires after this season.

Notes: Steven Chisek pitched a 1-2-3 sixth and seventh inning in his major league debut for the Marlins. … It was the eighth time this season the Brewers have hit back-to-back homers. … It was Braun’s 11th career multihomer game. … Marlins 2B Dan Uggla turned in a defensive gem in the fifth when he robbed Jonathan Lucroy of a hit with a full-throttle diving catch in short right field. … Richie Sexson (2001-03) and Fielder ((2007-09) are the other two Brewers in club history with three consecutive seasons with 100 RBIs. … Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez (left elbow) missed his fifth consecutive game. … Hart legged out a grounder to third in the fourth and extended his hitting streak to 11 games.