Jorge Julio Released, Mike Burns Promoted by Brewers

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

After an atrocious outing on Monday night, the Milwaukee Brewers released reliever Jorge Julio and promoted 30-year-old Mike Burns to the big-league club.

Julio entered the game Monday with a 4-2 lead and failed to retire a batter, surrendering five runs (four earned) in the decisive sixth inning of a 7-4 loss to the Marlins.

Manager Ken Macha indicated after the game that it wasn't so much that he had confidence in Julio, but that he simply had nowhere else to turn for an inning.

With ace relief pitcher Mark DiFelice nursing an elbow injury, and pitchers Mitch Stetter and Seth McClung needing some rest, the Brewers were an arm short of victory Monday night.

Julio carried a 7.79 ERA with 15 walks in 17.3 innings as a Brewer in 2009.

As for his roster replacement, Burns is a journeyman who has a 5.88 ERA in stints with Houston, Cincinnati, and Boston.

However, he has had a solid season in AAA, with an ERA under three as a starter in Nashville.

The Milwaukee 'pen has taken a beating of late, being forced into action for 12-and-two-third innings over the last three games due to some short starts by Brewer pitching.

That will need to change starting tonight with the often-erratic Manny Parra toeing the rubber, or the Brewers risk grinding down their relief pitchers even more—a dangerous proposition so early in the season.

The Brewers got more bad pitching news this week, with reliever David Riske slated to have an elbow surgery later today that will likely end his season.

Riske was brought in to compete for the closing job entering 2008, but has battled injuries and ineffectiveness throughout his Brewer career.

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