Ramirez hopeful injury won't end his '13

NEW YORK -- As expected, third baseman Aramis Ramirez was absent from the Brewers' starting lineup Thursday after re-injuring his balky left knee during Wednesday's scrum with the Braves. But Ramirez expressed more hope about playing in at least one more game this season.

"I don't want to end the season with an injury," Ramirez said.

It's been a season of buzzard's luck for Ramirez, who contributed 50 doubles, 27 home runs and 105 RBIs in his debut season with the Brewers in 2012 but has been limited to 90 games in 2013 because of a sprained left knee originally sustained in Spring Training. He missed 54 games while on the disabled list, plus many more while on the active roster but banged up.

"It couldn't be any worse, huh?" Ramirez said.

He was not sure exactly how he tweaked his knee in Wednesday's scuffle but said it had nothing to do with Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman inadvertently elbowing Ramirez in the face.