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	Friday, June 9
	Brown to hear more about that dropped ball Associated Press
	CHICAGO -- Now Brant Brown will never hear the end of that dropped fly ball. Brown, whose muffed catch almost cost the Cubs a trip to the postseason in 1998, was reacquired by Chicago on Friday as part of a three-way trade with the Texas Rangers and the Florida Marlins. The Marlins sent Brown to Texas for right-hander Chuck Smith, a minor leaguer. The Rangers then dealt Brown to Chicago for outfielder Dave Martinez to bolster their injury-depleted outfield. "Obviously we know Brant. He's a 28-year-old guy who hit .290 for us in 1998 and drove in 48 runs. He hit 14 home runs in 350 at-bats," Cubs general manager Ed Lynch said. "We think (hitting coach) Jeff Pentland can get him back on track to where he was in 1998. We think it makes us better." And that fly ball? "I knew somebody was going to bring that up," Lynch said. Riding Sammy Sosa's 66-homer season, the Cubs were closing in on the NL wild-card spot on Sept. 23, 1998. As they began the ninth inning in Milwaukee with a 7-5 lead, Brown was in left field, inserted as a defensive replacement the inning before. Geoff Jenkins hit what seemed to be a relatively routine fly ball, but Brown, adjusting to the late-afternoon sun and wind, didn't make the catch. The ball skittered toward the fence, all three runs scored, and the Cubs lost a game they couldn't afford to lose. The Cubs ended up getting the NL wild card after beating San Francisco in a one-game playoff. "He had a great year for us," Lynch said. "He really saved us when we had some key injuries. He had a good year for us. We're excited about reacquiring him." Brown hit .192 with two homers and six RBIs in 41 games with Florida this season. He is a career .255 hitter in five major league seasons. The addition of Martinez, as well as the activation of Gabe Kapler from the 15-day disabled list, should shore up the Rangers outfield. All three Texas starters have missed games due to injuries, and Ruben Mateo is out for the season with a broken leg. Kapler, who had been out with a partially torn quadriceps muscle, will take Mateo's spot in center. He hit .200 with three homers and 12 RBIs before getting hurt on May 2. Martinez, 35, hit .234 with one homer and 13 RBIs in 47 games with Tampa Bay and Chicago this season. He was sent to the Cubs on May 12 in a trade for pitcher Mark Guthrie. Texas will be his seventh team in 15 seasons in the majors. "You wish it didn't happen, but it's part of the game," Martinez said. "I've been through it before. I'm just going to go over there and hope to hit a little better and help those guys win." Texas also optioned right-hander Jonathan Johnson to Triple-A Oklahoma. He made one appearance after being recalled June 6, allowing two earned runs in three innings Wednesday against the Dodgers. Smith is scheduled to make his first start for the Marlins on Tuesday at Philadelphia. The 30-year-old was 5-3 with a 3.78 ERA with 73 strikeouts for Triple-A Oklahoma this season.		ALSO SEE Marlins, D-Backs swap Fox, Bautista