Brewers slug their way to 5-2 victory over Phillies

PHILADELPHIA >> The Phillies could have their most versatile player back in the lineup before the end of this weekend.

Manager Gabe Kapler is so amped up over Scott Kingery’s rehab from a groin strain, an odyssey that most recently included a sizzling 4.5 in the 90-foot dash to first base, he walked himself back from saying no way.

“I’m not going to rule it out completely,” Kapler said. “I’ll just say we’re not sure.”

Kingery has been sidelined since April 20 after straining his right hamstring. The timing was particularly humbling as the jack of all fielding trades was batting .406 with two homers, six RBIs and a 1.176 OPS in 32 at-bats.

“It was definitely frustrating when it happened because I was rolling at the time and things felt good,” Kingery said. “I think the plan is to just get it back to that and just be ready to go within the next couple of days and see where it can go from there.”

Kapler said the plan is for Kingery to trek to Double-A Reading Thursday and play nine innings at second base.

“The following day we’re going to have him play both third and center field in the same game and then we’ll kind of react from there,” Kapler said. “But we want to as soon as we can get him exposed to the outfield so we can utilize him where it’s best for him and for the Phillies.”

Kingery played seven solid innings at shortstop at Single-A Lakeland Tuesday, per Kapler.

“He was tested in a number of ways, the first one being sprinting down the first base line,” Kapler said. “He ran close to a 4.5 down the first base line, which is fast. He also was challenged on a couple plays defensively. He mentioned that at the beginning, the first time he ran down the first base line he was challenged with it. He was kind of ginger with it because he hasn’t experienced a soft tissue injury in the past. But then he was able to make the adjustment, accelerate and trust his body.

“We knew he was healthy when we sent him out.”

Kingery wouldn’t put an absolute timetable on his return, which he’s taking “day to day.” The Phillies will have to subtract a player from the 25-man roster when Kingery is ready.

Maybe not coincidentally, two guys that could be on the bubble, callups Sean Rodriguez and Phil Gosselin, were in the starting lineup Wednesday night for third baseman Maikel Franco and centerfielder Odubel Herrera, respectively. Andrew McCutchen moved from left to center and Gosselin started in left field.

For Kingery, the rehab process cannot go fast enough.

“Hopefully I’ll get some playing time at different positions, test it out at all the positions and get some more live ABs,” Kingery said. “I’ll see how it goes from there.”

In terms of role, it’s unlikely a healthy Kingery would be limited to third base and center.

“The best way to describe it is he would be used and viewed in a similar fashion as he has in the past,” Kapler said. “As an option to start at any position; third, short, second, center, left or right.”

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The best news for Kapler was no news regarding struggling Bryce Harper.

There was concern Harper could wake up with severe discomfort in the left knee he injured crashing into the outfield wall Tuesday night.

Turns out Harper didn’t need an MRI or a bone scan.

“I checked in with our medical staff,” Kapler said. “There’s no concerns for his well-being going forward. There’s minimal swelling in there. Nothing that causes any of us any concern about putting him out there today.”

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NOTES >> Actor Bruce Willis, who hails from Penns Grove, N.J., threw out the first pitch Wednesday night. It bounced once, and yeah, he got some boos. Might have been different had he thrown it from the rubber, not at the front of the mound where the dirt meets the grass. … Zach Eflin (5-3, 2.47) and the Phillies oppose Zach Davies (4-0, 1.54) and the Brewers in the getaway game Thursday at 1. … For the Phillies, the matinee marks a grueling stretch of 12 games in

12 days, all with different start times than the day before. The Phillies entertain the Colorado Rockies Friday (7:05 p.m.), Saturday (4:05 p.m.) and Sunday

(1:05 p.m.).

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Phillies utility player Scott Kingery makes a pivot at second and guns a throw to first over Charlie Blackmon in a game against the Rockies in Denver in April. Kingery was injured during that series on April 20 and is hoping to return to action soon.