Right-hander Rick Helling's return to the mound was inspiring and impressive.

For nine pitches.

The Brewers veteran, who returned from the 60-day disabled list to start against Detroit Tuesday night at Miller Park, needed only nine pitches to strike out three Tigers batters in the top of the first inning.

So much for the highlights.

Detroit's Magglio Ordonez crushed Helling's first pitch of the second inning over the wall in left field for his 14th homer of the season. The Tigers pushed across another run on a sacrifice fly and then scored four more runs in a third-inning rally that featured another homer by Ordonez.

Helling was hooked after issuing a one-out walk to Carlos Guillen. His replacement was rookie Carlos Villaneuva, who pitched well enough in Cincinnati last week to be considered for the start Tuesday. Yost and general manager Doug Melvin decided to go with experience and pointed to Helling's recent elbow issues as a reason to keep the veteran on an every-five-days schedule.

The gamble didn't work, but anybody who wanted to second-guess the decision to start Helling didn't have long to do so. Villaneuva promptly allowed a homer to Craig Monroe as the Tigers went up, 8-0. An inning later, Villaneuva served up a two-run jack to Pudge Rodriguez and it was 10-0.

Some other news and notes from around the ballpark:

• In order to activate Helling, the Brewers designated right-hander Allan Simpson for assignment. They also outrighted right-hander Joe Winkelsas to Class AAA Nashville and promoted infielder Chris Barnwell, who joined the club and was assigned No. 12.  "There is nothing flashy about him," Yost said of Barnwell, who hit .326 in 66 games for Nashville. "He's just a good, hard-nosed player who knows how to play the game."  The Brewers chose Barnwell over two more experienced infielders -- Brent Abernathy and Zach Sorensen. Yost said "There is something to be said for kids that work hard. (Barnwell) deserved it."
• Injured shortstop J.J. Hardy, who has been out since mid-May with a sprained right ankle, took batting practice on the field for the first time since hurting himself sliding into Phillies catcher Sal Fasano. "I don't think it felt as good as he wanted it to feel," Yost said. "He's still making progress." Hardy could be ready start a rehab assignment next week.
• Right-hander Ben Sheets,sidelined since May 3 with shoulder tendinitis, threw 82 pitches in the bullpen Tuesday afternoon. Though his arm speed was good, Sheets threw only fastballs and changeups and said later he wasn't sure if he would be ready to face hitters in his next session.
• From the good deeds file: Brewers catcher Damian Miller and infielders Jeff Cirillo and Bill Hall are providing financial backing to support youth baseball in the area via the Little Brewers League, the Girls of Summer League and the RBI League.

Also, rightfielder Geoff Jenkins will host 1,700 kids at the ballpark today in conjunction with Brewers Charities and the YMCA.