Brewers' Gennett returns after month-long demotion
MILWAUKEE -- Craig Counsell saw enough and Scooter Gennett did enough, so the latter returned Thursday to the former's starting lineup Thursday after Gennett was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
After splitting time with Rickie Weeks last season, Gennett began the year as the Milwaukee Brewers' full-time starting second baseman. However, he got off to an abysmal start and was batting .207 with a .303 on-base percentage when he sustained a lacerated hand April 19 in Pittsburgh.
Gennett spent 15 days on the disabled list but went 4-for-36 (.111) in his next 11 games. He then was sent to Colorado Springs to regain his offensive stroke as well as sharpen up his defense.
"The game usually tells you what you need to work on, and when you have an opportunity to do that every day and work on what you need to, you figure things out," Gennett said. "I definitely feel confident now that everything's back to where it usually is, where needs to be, so I'm just excited to get things started."
With Gennett down on the farm, Milwaukee got a sampling of other options at the position, but Hector Gomez, Elian Herrera and Luis Sardinas all failed to produce, and Hernan Perez is 1-for-15 since Milwaukee claimed him off waivers from Detroit on June 2.
Gennett, meanwhile, got into a groove. Taking advantage of the thin air in Colorado Springs, he went 23-for-79 with seven doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs in 17 games.
"Scooter has played well down there," said Counsell, Milwaukee's manager. "The reports are that he's played well. That's number one. He's done what we've asked him to do. Number two, we need production out of second base. We just do. He's done it. We're hopeful he can get it rolling like he had it last year and '13 as well."
Gennett's return paid off big for the Brewers: He ripped a two-out single down the left field line in the eighth inning, driving in the go-ahead run as the Brewers rallied to beat the Washington Nationals 6-5.
"It's awesome, man," Gennett said. "Whenever you can step up and help the team win, it's always a good thing. It just helps the confidence out even more when it comes to getting the job done and making something happen. It's always a great thing."
MILWAUKEE -- Craig Counsell saw enough and Scooter Gennett did enough, so the latter returned Thursday to the former's starting lineup Thursday after Gennett was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
After splitting time with Rickie Weeks last season, Gennett began the year as the Milwaukee Brewers' full-time starting second baseman. However, he got off to an abysmal start and was batting .207 with a .303 on-base percentage when he sustained a lacerated hand April 19 in Pittsburgh.
Gennett spent 15 days on the disabled list but went 4-for-36 (.111) in his next 11 games. He then was sent to Colorado Springs to regain his offensive stroke as well as sharpen up his defense.
"The game usually tells you what you need to work on, and when you have an opportunity to do that every day and work on what you need to, you figure things out," Gennett said. "I definitely feel confident now that everything's back to where it usually is, where needs to be, so I'm just excited to get things started."
With Gennett down on the farm, Milwaukee got a sampling of other options at the position, but Hector Gomez, Elian Herrera and Luis Sardinas all failed to produce, and Hernan Perez is 1-for-15 since Milwaukee claimed him off waivers from Detroit on June 2.
Gennett, meanwhile, got into a groove. Taking advantage of the thin air in Colorado Springs, he went 23-for-79 with seven doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs in 17 games.
"Scooter has played well down there," said Counsell, Milwaukee's manager. "The reports are that he's played well. That's number one. He's done what we've asked him to do. Number two, we need production out of second base. We just do. He's done it. We're hopeful he can get it rolling like he had it last year and '13 as well."
Gennett's return paid off big for the Brewers: He ripped a two-out single down the left field line in the eighth inning, driving in the go-ahead run as the Brewers rallied to beat the Washington Nationals 6-5.
"It's awesome, man," Gennett said. "Whenever you can step up and help the team win, it's always a good thing. It just helps the confidence out even more when it comes to getting the job done and making something happen. It's always a great thing."
