SEATTLE (AP) -Carlos Silva left his start Sunday with lower back tightness after allowing four runs in three-plus innings to Cleveland, becoming the latest casualty on the Seattle Mariners’ sick, injured and ineffective rotation.
With the game tied at 1, Silva allowed a double to Jhonny Peralta, an infield single to Shin-soo Choo and three-run home run to Kelly Shoppach to begin the fourth. Mariners trainer Rick Griffin immediately joined manager Jim Riggleman and all of the team’s infielders on the mound with Silva. The bullish, 250-plus-pound right-hander then walked alone off the field following a brief consultation. He was replaced by Roy Corcoran.
“Another three years!” a fan in the lower deck yelled derisively at Silva as he departed.
He allowed four hits and four runs, with one walk and one strikeout. He hit a batter with one of his 72 pitches.
Silva was 4-11 entering Sunday in the first season of a $48 million four-year contract. He has won once in 17 starts since April 17.
Earlier Sunday, Seattle activated closer J.J. Putz from the 15-day disabled list and demoted Ryan Rowland-Smith, specifically so Rowland-Smith could convert to a full-time starter at Triple-A Tacoma. Manager Jim Riggleman noted the Mariners are desperately short of prospects for their rotation, which is already without supposed ace Erik Bedard indefinitely. Bedard, acquired from Baltimore for five players in February, is on the DL for the second time this season because of tightness in his left shoulder. He has six wins in 15 starts.
Friday, Felix Hernandez made his second strong start since returning from a sprained ankle. Miguel Batista (4-11 with a 6.98 ERA) has struggled in and out of the rotation while battling back pain all season. The 37-year-old right-hander allowed eight runs in two-plus innings Saturday while losing to the Indians, but Riggleman said Batista will take his next rotation turn next weekend at Toronto.
Batista was starting Saturday because left-hander Jarrod Washburn had the flu. Washburn, a candidate to be traded before the July 31 non-waiver deadline, is now scheduled to pitch Monday against Boston.
Add A Comment