Last call

• After fielding ground balls Tuesday in a test of his healing left knee, third baseman Aramis Ramirez remained on track to return to action, probably as the designated hitter, this weekend in Seattle. Ramirez ran the bases Monday and will repeat that exercise Wednesday, Roenicke said.

• Roenicke met Tuesday with struggling reliever John Axford and discussed a modified role. Axford had either surrendered a run of his own or allowed an inherited runner to score in six straight outings through Monday's loss to the Giants.

"I think I'll back off when I can, and then when it's a situation I need him to be in there, he'll be in there," Roenicke said. "I had a discussion with him today, and we're just trying to figure out some different ways to get him back to where I think he should be."