Kawakami roughed up in Braves’ intrasquad game

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Kenshin Kawakami had a rough outing Monday in an intrasquad game, allowing five runs on six hits in four innings. Jason Heyward launched a two-run homer to right field on a high fastball.

Kawakami was throwing his fastball up in the strike zone for much of the first three innings before pitching coach Roger McDowell talked to him about focusing on throwing his fastball at knee-level.

“Kawakami got the ball down good in the fourth inning,” Cox said. “He was fine.”

The Braves were off Monday but wanted to keep Kawakami on his regular schedule.

Heyward hit two homers in the game, including one to left center off Emiliano Fruto. This was after he homered off Jair Jurrjens in an intrasquad game last Monday.

“I think it’s one of the longer ones I’ve seen here to right field,” Cox said of Monday’s shot off Kawakami, which hit near the base of a wall 30 yards behind the outfield fence. “He got it all.”

Health updates

Jordan Schafer said his shoulder felt good after taking soft tosses Monday. He plans to take batting practice Tuesday, and get into a game on Wednesday in Clearwater. He’s been out more than a week with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder.

Charlie Morton played some catch Monday. He’s been out all spring with a strained oblique muscle. Cox indicated he might be back throwing off a mound in a week.