Milwaukee Brewers plan to bring Rickie Weeks back slowly from ankle injury | Appleton Post Crescent on Astini News

MILWAUKEE — Second baseman Rickie Weeks made his first start on Sunday since damaging the ligaments in his ankle back on July 27.

But as predetermined before the game, he was pulled after four innings.

"They're trying to protect me right now and I have to abide by the rules, I guess, right now," said Weeks, who walked and was hit by a pitch in his two plate appearances.

The Milwaukee Brewers have a day off today before taking on the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday at Miller Park. As of now, the Brewers plan to take the slow but steady approach with Weeks.

"He wanted to stay out there longer," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "He looked real good. I watched him the last time he got to first base and had the 3-2 count and took off. He looked good. We were happy with the way he looked.

"We'll see how it goes. Tuesday I would like to get him back in there again if everything works out well. Increase some innings there. It's hard to put a number of how many days it will be before I just let him go nine. We're not quite sure yet."

Despite being out roughly six weeks, Weeks said it took just two pitches as a pinch hitter on Saturday night to get back into a groove.

"The biggest thing was the first two pitches," he said. "It kind of shocked me a little bit, the speed of the game. But after the first two pitches, I felt good."

Morgan delivers again: While his alter-ego Tony Plush and his wild/volatile personality often dominate the conversation when it comes to outfielder Nyjer Morgan, he continues to make key contributions on the field for the Brewers.

Sunday his two-out double drove home Corey Hart with the tying run and Morgan subsequently scored the go-ahead run when Ryan Braun drove him home. Morgan finished two-for-three and is hitting .310 for the season.

"He's been amazing for us all year," said Braun. "He's swung the bat really well. He's gotten a lot of big hits in big situations, played well defensively and run the bases really well. He's done a lot of things to contribute on the field.

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"I think sometimes people lose sight of that because of his creativity and personality, but he's really been a great player for us on the field. Without him tying it, I don't even get an at-bat, so I think his at-bat was more important than mine."

Worley bird: Beating Vance Worley may not have seemed like that big of a deal, considering the Phillies' vaunted starting rotation.

But consider this. The loss was Worley's first in his last 15 starts. The Phillies had not lost when he took the mound as a starter since May 29. Prior to Sunday, Worley had gone 9-0 with a 2.61 ERA since a loss to the Mets on May 29. His nine-game winning streak that began on June 3 was the longest of any NL pitcher this season.

So for the Brewers to beat him was indeed a big deal.

Yo-Yo: Starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo finished with 12 strikeouts, tying his career high. It marks his 13th career 10-strikeout plus game and third this season.

Since Aug. 5, Gallardo has compiled a 4-3 record in eight starts. He is 0-3 versus the Cardinals with an 8.62 ERA. In his other five starts, he is 4-0 with a 1.46 ERA.