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05-23-2006, 10:39 PM
CINCINNATI -- Hoping to bolster a slumping bullpen that was supposed to be a strength, the Brewers added veteran Minor Leaguer Joe Winkelsas to the mix on Tuesday and designated Justin Lehr for assignment.
Winkelsas, a 32-year-old right-hander, made 13 relief appearances for Double-A Huntsville this season and compiled four saves and a 1.72 earned-run average. He allowed runs in only two outings and recorded at least one strikeout in 10 of his 13 appearances.
His only Major League appearance was an extremely brief one with Atlanta in April 1999, when he surrendered two runs on four hits and a walk in one-third of an inning. Winkelsas, who also pitched one game for Triple-A Nashville this year, has pitched parts of 11 seasons in the Minors.
The Brewers have carried 13 pitchers and 12 position players for more than a month, but have nonetheless struggled in relief, especially the middle innings. Lehr, a right-hander, had pitched in two recent blowouts -- Monday against the Reds and Saturday against the Twins -- and allowed six earned runs on eight hits in two innings.
Those two outings boosted Lehr's ERA from 5.93 to 8.62. The 28-year-old was acquired with outfield prospect Nelson Cruz from Oakland in December 2004.
Winkelsas, a 32-year-old right-hander, made 13 relief appearances for Double-A Huntsville this season and compiled four saves and a 1.72 earned-run average. He allowed runs in only two outings and recorded at least one strikeout in 10 of his 13 appearances.
His only Major League appearance was an extremely brief one with Atlanta in April 1999, when he surrendered two runs on four hits and a walk in one-third of an inning. Winkelsas, who also pitched one game for Triple-A Nashville this year, has pitched parts of 11 seasons in the Minors.
The Brewers have carried 13 pitchers and 12 position players for more than a month, but have nonetheless struggled in relief, especially the middle innings. Lehr, a right-hander, had pitched in two recent blowouts -- Monday against the Reds and Saturday against the Twins -- and allowed six earned runs on eight hits in two innings.
Those two outings boosted Lehr's ERA from 5.93 to 8.62. The 28-year-old was acquired with outfield prospect Nelson Cruz from Oakland in December 2004.