Romo's big inning and other notes

Sergio Romo struck out two of his three hitters to close today's 5-3 victory over Milwaukee. The main thing wasn't the result, but how strong his arm felt. He will pitch another day.

That was not so last spring. He was one-and-done after his first spring outing, which was terrible, and soon was diagnosed with a sprained elbow that cost him the rest of spring training and two months of the regular season.

"I didn't care what happened to me today," Romo said. "I didn't care if I got lit up. My arm's not stuck. I can move it."

Today is Romo's 27th birthday. His folks are in town and his mom plans to cook a huge Mexican dinner, with empanadas, carne asada, the whole nine yards.

Mom told Romo to invite some of his best friends on the team. When she suggested Pablo Sandoval, Romo weighed the caloric heft of his birthday meal and told his mom, "I don't think that's a good idea. I want a spot on this team."

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Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel beat writer Tom Haudricourt always asks me if secret weapon Ryan Rohlinger is going to play against the Brewers. Rohlinger comes from the Milwaukee area and throttled the Brewers in a couple of spring games last year.

Rohlinger did not get a hit in his one at-bat off the bench but found a way to kill the Brewers again, making a terrific pickup and throw to first on Joe Inglett's grounder to end the game.

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Inglett was the poor kid whom Brewers manager Ken Macha sent to first base to run for Prince Fielder, only to have Fielder wave him back. That showed not only who runs the Brewers (hint: It's not Macha), but also suggests (pure speculation on my part) that Fielder was hoping he might be able to take out an infielder or catcher on a close play in retaliation for Barry Zito plunking him.

Inglett wound up running for the next better, Casey McGehee.

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Outfield prospect Thomas Neal should be able to play tomorrow. He was hit on the head by a pitch yesterday. Results of Emmanuel Burriss' MRI are not known as of this writing. Maybe tomorrow.