MILWAUKEE (AP) - One slugger back, one slugger down for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Outfielder Ryan Braun has been activated from the 15-day disabled list after being sidelined with a right oblique strain. He started Tuesday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Third baseman Aramis Ramirez was placed on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. He got hurt fielding a bouncer in Saturday night’s 5-4 win over the Yankees.
The battered Brewers lost another key player when outfielder Carlos Gomez left the Pirates game after the bottom of the fifth with lower back tightness. He was considered day-to-day.
Braun was hitting .318 with six homers and 18 RBIs when he got hurt. Seeing Ramirez go down didn’t add any extra urgency, Braun said.
The Brewers had discussed possibly sending Braun to the minors for a rehab game Monday but weather and travel issues curtailed that plan. Instead, the slugger was back his customary No. 3 position in the batting order Tuesday.
“I think he’s going to be good. He’s a guy that when he sat in the past he’s been pretty good right off, so I’m hoping that’s what happens,” manager Ron Roenicke said.
Neither Roenicke nor Ramirez knew how long it might take for the veteran third baseman to get over his pulled hamstring, the first such injury of Ramirez’s 16-year career.
Milwaukee on Tuesday also optioned outfielder Caleb Gindl back to Triple-A Nashville and recalled utility man Elian Herrera, who was batting .359 in the minors.
Herrera’s versatility should help if Gomez has to begin a suspension this week for his role in a benches-clearing scrum against the Pirates in April. Milwaukee expected to hear soon from the National League about Gomez’s appeal.
It has been a tough few days for Gomez. Milwaukee’s leadoff hitter was hit in the left forearm by a pitch Sunday against the Yankees; he was hit on the arm again Tuesday on a changeup by Pirates starter Gerrit Cole.
For the Pirates, Starling Marte was out of the starting lineup again with a sore back, though manager Clint Hurdle said it was possible the outfielder might be available off the bench.
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