Ramirez removed with bruised left elbow

ST. LOUIS -- Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez exited Monday's game against the Cardinals with a bruised left elbow after being hit in the arm by pitches in consecutive innings. X-rays came back negative.

Ramirez was struck in the sixth inning by a 94 mph fastball from Cardinals starter Michael Wacha, and struck again by a Pat Neshek slider in the seventh, forcing home a run to even the score, 3-3. He left the game before the Cardinals batted in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Brewers are suddenly a banged-up bunch. They played Monday with only 23 healthy players, with right fielder Ryan Braun sidelined by a right rib-cage strain and shortstop Jean Segura still nursing a nasty cut on his face.