Weeks brings hot hitting to start vs. Bucs' lefty

MILWAUKEE -- Second baseman Rickie Weeks, relegated to spot duty for much of the season, made his ninth start of the season Wednesday night against left-hander Francisco Liriano.

After a slow start, Weeks was batting .600 (12-for-20) with four RBIs since April 25 to raise his average to .333.

"When he came into Spring Training this year, we thought with where he had moved his hands, we thought it was in a great position," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said before Wednesday night's game against the Pirates. "We really thought he could hit well from the get-go. It could be just a lack of playing time at the beginning of the year, I don't know. But he found it and hopefully we can keep him out there long enough to where he doesn't lose it."

Left-handed hitting Scooter Gennett receives the bulk of the playing time at second base against right-handed pitching. Gennett, who has started 31 games at second, is hitting .287 in 122 at-bats. Weeks has had just 45 at-bats.

Weeks, an All-Star in 2011, hit .209 with 10 homers and 24 RBIs in 104 games last season before a season-ending injury in early August.

After three earlier stints in the Major Leagues last season, Gennett hit .358 after being called up in early August to replace Weeks.