Eric Sogard, Wily Peralta join Brewers for Phillies series

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Eric Sogard has been on the disabled list since July 6 with an injured left ankle.

PHILADELPHIA - Reinforcements arrived at the outset of the Milwaukee Brewers' three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies this weekend at Citizens Bank Park.

Second baseman Eric Sogard joined the team Friday as expected after a two-game, minor-league rehab stint at Class A Wisconsin that served as the final test for the jammed left ankle that has had him on the disabled list since July 6.

The unexpected new face who arrived with Sogard was reliever Wily Peralta, who has been on the DL since June 21 with a right-calf strain.

Neither, however, were active for Friday's series opener.

BOX SCORE: Phillies 6, Brewers 1

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"Both Sogard and Wily, they’ll be activated this weekend," manager Craig Counsell said. "Sogard most likely this weekend. Wily, he pitched two innings yesterday, so we’ll see how it goes the next couple days.

"But before we get out of this weekend he’ll be active as well."

Sogard had seven plate appearances over two games with the Timber Rattlers, walking twice. He could have been activated Friday, but Counsell wanted to give him a day to rest after pushing his ankle hard over the previous four days.

Jonathan Villar and Hernán Pérez alternated at second base in Pittsburgh. Sogard had mostly become the Brewers' primary starter before being injured, hitting .331 with a .438 on-base percentage in 43 games.

Sogard's ability to hit with two strikes and show patience at the plate also made him a solid leadoff hitter.

Counsell said how he works Sogard back into the lineup remains to be seen. He could also slide over and play shortstop, giving Orlando Arcia an occasional breather.

"I don’t have a strict plan coming out of his DL," he said. "Eric had played to a level that forced us to play him. That’s how it worked. I don’t feel like he’s completely starting over, but he’s starting over a little bit.

"I think we have two guys ultimately that could play there. They’ll both be involved. But if a guy gets hot, he’ll play."

Peralta, meanwhile, was sent to Class AAA Colorado Springs on July 5, but he struggled his way to an 8.44 earned-run average in four appearances with the Sky Sox. He was actually held out of game action for 10 days after a blowup outing July 8, a break that allowed him to work more closely with pitching coach Fred Dabney.

"He had one rough outing and then we took a step back," Counsell said. "He threw two to three bullpens with Fred and felt like, during that time, he was able to make some adjustments and figure out some things that hopefully prove to be effective. He had two good outings subsequently.

"He’s obviously got to prove it here, but I think he’s coming in from a good place."

Peralta opened the season in Milwaukee's rotation but was moved to the bullpen in late May. He's 5-4 with a 7.21 earned-run average and a WHIP of 1.71 in 17 total appearances, but strictly as a reliever he is 1-2 with a 10.54 ERA and WHIP of 2.20.

Peralta said his stint in Colorado Springs has helped him feel more like a reliever, something he struggled with after making 112 of his 113 major-league appearances coming into the season as a starter.

"Now I feel like I’m really a bullpen guy," he said. "Routine-wise, sitting in there and watching the game. Standing up and warming up, I feel like it’s kind of normal now.

"I don’t feel the way I felt earlier in the season, when my body would react in a different way. Now I feel like I’m a bullpen guy. Now I feel normal."

Braun out again: Leftfielder Ryan Braun missed his third consecutive game with a sore right wrist.

"I've had the wrist thing for a while," said Braun, who also missed 38 games in May and June after serving two separate stints on the DL with a strained left calf. Braun had played the first five games out of the all-star break.

"I got a cortisone shot the last day of the first half for the wrist, when we were in New York. It helped a little bit. Just trying to manage things. It’s definitely not fun, but it’s part of it."

The expectation is Braun will return to the lineup Saturday.

"I'm optimistic I'll be in there tomorrow," he said.