Romero, Uribe toss scoreless frames to begin rehab assignments

NEW YORK -- High-A Wisconsin had some extra firepower on the pitching staff Tuesday night, when relievers JoJo Romero and Abner Uribe began rehab assignments by dealing a scoreless inning apiece to get the Timber Rattlers started on the right foot at home against South Bend.

Romero, the left-hander acquired from the Cardinals alongside right-handed starter Dustin May at the Trade Deadline, started and pitched a scoreless frame with one walk and one strikeout. Then Uribe, Milwaukee’s right-handed setup man, pitched the second inning and replicated that same line.

The Brewers’ weekly injury report projected a late August return for Romero, who has been on the injured list since undergoing an emergency appendectomy last month when he was still with the Cardinals. Manager Pat Murphy has said the Brewers want to see Romero make a series of outings, including pitching back-to-back days, before they bring him back.

Uribe is on the 15-day IL with a strained right forearm and is eligible to be reinstated as soon as Wednesday, although the injury report suggests he might not be back in the Majors that soon. The medical staff is projecting a late August or early September return to the bullpen for Uribe, who has a 2.05 ERA in 49 appearances so far this season.