"The Milwaukee Brewers' brief scare with reliever Francisco Rodriguez disappeared Saturday when he was cleared for action and pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Rodriguez exited the game Friday night with leg cramps, the result of legging out an infield hit in the bottom of the eighth inning - his first major-league hit. He was scheduled to pitch the ninth Friday after recording the final out in the eighth.

"I'm a little sore, but I'm OK," said Rodriguez, who tested his legs by playing catch before batting practice. "I'll be fine."

As might be expected, manager Ron Roenicke had his qualms about batting Rodriguez, a one-time closer who had only one major-league at-bat. But, when Jonathan Lucroy kept alive a three-run inning with an infield RBI single, Rodriguez was allowed to bat with orders to take it easy.

Rodriguez hit an easy roller to Pirates first baseman Garrett Jones, but when Jones was nonchalant in getting to the base, Rodriguez accelerated and beat him there. He paid a price, however, when he experienced cramping in both legs.

Roenicke was surprised that Rodriguez had any leg problems.

"They cover first base when somebody hits a ground ball to first and probably sprint from there harder than they would out of the (batter's) box," said Roenicke."