Notes: Freddy Peralta earned way back to major leagues by dominating at Colorado Springs

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

In 12 starts with Class AAA Colorado Springs, Freddy Peralta, who will start Tuesday for the Brewers, is 6-1 with a 2.75 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 59 innings.

PITTSBURGH – When Freddy Peralta was removed from his last start with Class AAA Colorado Springs after three shutout innings against Las Vegas, he was caught by surprise.

“I had no idea,” he said. “I said, ‘What’s going on?’”

What was going on was Peralta was being put on schedule to return to the major leagues to start Tuesday night for the Brewers against Pittsburgh. He pitched on short rest in that outing against Vegas, which is why he was removed after three innings.

“It’s still exciting,” Peralta said of his second go-round with the Brewers. "I’ve been working hard, trying to get back here. You are fighting all the time to be where you want to be – here.”

It will be difficult for Peralta to approach the excitement level of his big-league debut on Mother’s Day in Colorado. He went 5 ⅔ shutout innings that day, allowing only one hit while striking out 13 – a club record for a debut.

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Peralta pitched one more time, getting a no-decision in Minnesota, before returning to Colorado Springs, where he continued to dominate. In 12 starts there, he is 6-1 with a 2.75 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 59 innings.

Three starts prior to being recalled, Peralta took a no-hitter into the seventh inning at Fresno. Next time out in Sacramento, he struck out 11 in six innings. Manager Craig Counsell said no commitment was being made to Peralta beyond the start against the Pirates but a strong outing could lead to another.

“He has been on a really good roll,” Counsell said. “Every line score has looked really good. The evaluations have been really good. So, he has earned it.”

Shaw’s wrist is ailing: Third baseman Travis Shaw was out of the starting lineup with a sore right wrist and uncertain whether it would be a one-day absence or go longer.

“It’s been bugging me for a while,” he said. “I tweaked it in my second at-bat (Sunday). Hopefully, it’ll just be one day. We’ll see.”

Of the issue, Counsell said, “It’s bugging him enough to not play. It’s day to day. He took some swings today (in the indoor batting cage) and it didn’t feel great. So, we’ll give him the day off. He’s able to swing; it’s just bugging him still.”

The issue allowed Counsell to keep Hernán Pérez’s hot bat in the lineup by starting him at third base. Pérez started Sunday at shortstop for the first time this season in place of slump-ridden Orlando Arcia.

Perez batted .471 (8 for 17) on the Brewers’ recent home stand. Going back farther, Perez has batted .333 (26 for 78) over his last 31 games, raising his batting average from .185 to .273.

“He’s swinging the bat good, and certainly a guy you want in there now,” Counsell said.

Surprise salute to Ueck: What made the team’s sartorial tribute to Bob Uecker on Sunday night more impressive was that it came as a total surprise to the team’s Hall of Fame radio voice. Before boarding the team flight here, players and staff donned gaudy sport coats, as Uecker often did during his days of Miller Lite beer ads, appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and in the “Major League” movies.

Brewers players dressed up with a Bob Uecker theme before hopping a plane to Pittsburgh.

Beyond the colorful jackets, everyone wore T-shirts provided by traveling secretary Dan Larrea with an image from a 2008 Sports Illustrated photo shoot showing Uecker in swim trunks by the pool on a team trip to Miami.

“That was all Dan Larrea. It was a brilliant add to the event,” said Counsell, who had been trying for several years to organize the tribute to Uecker.

One of Uecker’s personal colorful sports coats was provided to the team by wife Judy and he donned it after the surprise was unveiled.

“That was the best part, 100% the best part,” Counsell said of the surprise element. “He doesn’t go with us that often on the road anymore. We knew he was coming; he was excited about coming on the trip. But he had no idea. It was perfect.”

Uecker said he had no idea what was up until he got on the plane and everyone started boarding wearing their special attire.

“I don’t know where they got all those jackets,” Uecker said. “It was unbelievable. I laughed my (butt) off. The one I wore (on the plane), when I wore it on the Tonight Show, Johnny said, 'That’s some kind of sport coat.’ I said, ‘These are all state flags of places I played in my career in baseball.' "