Gomez returns to Brewers' starting lineup

PITTSBURGH -- Carlos Gomez was back in the Brewers' lineup after spraining his left shoulder on Sunday following a scary collision with the wall in Miller Park.

Gomez played center field and hit third on Friday in a 10-3 loss to the Pirates, and he went 2-for-5 with a run. Entering the game, he was batting .313 with a .925 OPS and 12 home runs, eight triples, 18 doubles and 37 RBIs.

The Brewers got word on Friday that Corey Hart will miss the remainder of the season after he has surgery on his left knee, and Ryan Braun's status is still unknown after he swung a bat on Tuesday while recovering from an injured thumb.

The health of Gomez, who has been one of Milwaukee's best offensive weapons, is important, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. But the injuries have continued to pile up for a team with the second-worst record in the National League (32-46).

It's just the way things have gone this season for Milwaukee.

"Yeah, it is," Roenicke said.