Notes: June is JBJ's month; Lindblom resets

MILWAUKEE -- If you look at Jackie Bradley Jr.’s monthly splits for his eight years in Boston, you’ll see a player who is often ice cold in April and a little better in May before he finds his groove in June -- traditionally his best of any month on the calendar.

If Bradley can repeat that pattern in his first season with the Brewers, it would go a long way toward helping his new team navigate a new wave of injury issues. He has an .821 OPS in 139 career games in June, his only month north of .800. His 117 weighted runs created plus is also his best mark of any month and one of only two months north of 100 (also August, 103).

“Maybe it’s coincidence,” Bradley said when presented with those splits Friday, when the Brewers added second baseman Kolten Wong (left oblique) to a 10-day injured list that already includes center fielder Lorenzo Cain (right hamstring). “I know I don't try to say, 'Ooh, man, I'm going to really turn it on now in June.'

“My daughter was born in June, so maybe you can come up with something about that. … But hey, I don't know. It just happens, I guess. Hopefully it continues to heat up in June.”

Bradley acknowledged he has never had a start to the season as cold as this one. He was 6-for-73 with 30 strikeouts and a -12 wRC+ in May.

So while it was only one night, Thursday was encouraging for everyone. Bradley hit a solo home run and a single and walked in his first multihit game since April 18. The Brewers won the game, 7-4.

“With ‘Lo’ out, we know Jackie’s going to be important, and he’s going to be in there,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “I thought he played good defense, too. Hopefully he’s getting going a little bit here, but it’s a good way to start after a couple days off for him. We’ve got to get him going. That’s a key to us putting up numbers like seven runs. It’s everybody, and he’s included.”

Bradley, who came to the Brewers in February on a $24 million free-agent contract, has remained unflappable amid the worst hitting slump of a streaky career. That has always been his demeanor, the 31-year-old said.

“I've had a lot of struggles across my career. None to this point that would mirror this particular struggle,” he said. “I don't really think there's timetables that will tell you when you're going to get out of something. You just have to continue to work and continue to compete. That's what it all boils down to. This game is not going to feel sorry for you, and you shouldn't think that way. You have to go out there and continue to push the envelope and continue to work hard.”

Lindblom back in action
It was a good start -- a _restart_, really -- for veteran right-hander Josh Lindblom on Thursday. In his first start for Triple-A Nashville after being designated for assignment by the Brewers, Lindblom threw 30 of 47 pitches for strikes in three scoreless innings of the Sounds’ 15th consecutive victory, a 15-4 rout of the top White Sox affiliate in Charlotte, N.C.

Lindblom allowed a first-inning double but no other hits, and he didn’t walk a batter while striking out three in his first appearance since pitching for the Brewers in relief against the Padres on May 25.

“Here’s the thing: That didn’t happen by accident what he did in Korea, throwing that many innings and winning their Cy Young and MVP,” said Brewers ace Brandon Woodruff on Friday. “He can pitch. I know the [long relief] role he was in was tough. You hear baseball players say this game is hard. When you’re not in a consistent routine like he’s used to, it’s tough. It’s hard. It’s really difficult. I think he realized, ‘I need to pitch. I need to get on a routine.’

“So that’s a good start for him. Honestly, we’re probably going to need him at some point. He’s a big contributor to this team, not only on the field but in the clubhouse. That goes a long way, having somebody great in the clubhouse. I hope he keeps doing well and gets back up here as soon as possible. It’s all hands on deck; it’s going to take everybody.”

Last call
• The Sounds placed outfielder Corey Ray, Milwaukee's No. 24 prospect, and outfielder/first baseman Dustin Peterson on their seven-day IL, Ray with a quadriceps injury and Peterson with a broken left finger from a hit by pitch. Both were injured in Tuesday's game and may be down a while.

• Also in the Minors, right-handed reliever Chad Sobotka made his debut as a member of the Brewers' organization Thursday night for Nashville. Sobotka was one of the pitchers acquired from the Braves in the Orlando Arcia trade on April 6, and he had been sidelined by what the Brewers described as a sinus infection.