Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks had surgery Monday to repair a cartilage tear in his left knee and is expected to be ready for spring training.

Weeks had part of the damaged meniscus removed by team physician Dr. William Raasch. Weeks will begin rehabilitation at home this week.

A first-round draft pick by Milwaukee in 2003, Weeks hit .234 with 14 homers and 46 RBIs in 129 games in his fifth season. Weeks slumped and spent most of September in a reserve role to veteran Ray Durham.

Weeks was injured on Saturday night in Game 3 against Philadelphia when he jammed his knee running out a hard-hit grounder and got tangled up with first baseman Ryan Howard.

Weeks was removed from the postseason roster and finished the series 0-for-4.

Milwaukee was eliminated with a 6-2 loss to the Phillies in Game 4 on Sunday.

Hip strain sidelines Lowell

Third baseman Mike Lowell was removed from Boston's first-round postseason roster on Monday because of a right hip strain.

He would be ineligible to play in the AL championship series if the Red Sox advance past their first-round opponent, the Los Angeles Angels.

Last year's World Series MVP, who also has a torn labrum in his right hip, was replaced on the active roster by infielder Gil Velazquez, who made his major league debut on Sept. 25.

Lowell was 0-for-8 in two games during the series against the Angels.

Backe arrested at wedding

Astros pitcher Brandon Backe was among 10 people arrested during a brawl with police at a weekend wedding reception in a Galveston, Texas, hotel bar.

The bride's father, 19-year-old brother and a FEMA coordinator were also arrested Sunday at the hotel, a command center for emergency workers after Hurricane Ike went through Galveston Island on Sept. 13.

Police spokesman Capt. Walter Braun said an internal affairs investigation has been launched.

The 30-year-old Backe, a member of the wedding party, ignored police orders to back away from the fight and struggled with officers who attempted to handcuff him, according to police reports.

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