Watch CBS News

With Perry Sidelined, Bullpen Implodes

Ryan Perry's absence was felt hours after he was placed on the disabled list.

Manager Jim Leyland wouldn't have minded having the option of bringing in Joel Zumaya, either, but he remains in Florida having just been green-lighted to resume light throwing after not having picked up a baseball since the end of February due to lingering elbow soreness.

Perry recently picked up an eye infection, and though he pitched Monday night, the ailment apparently was severe enough the Tigers' brass figured the team couldn't get through the days he would be out without needing an extra arm in the bullpen.

So without Perry, who pitched some key seventh, eighth and ninth innings for Detroit last season, Leyland had to scramble his midgame bullpen plans Thursday. Had Perry been available, he likely would have been the pitcher brought out of the bullpen for the seventh inning.

And without Perry as the seventh-inning stopper, a 5-4 Detroit lead evaporated in a five-run frame that brought Baltimore a 9-5 victory.

Instead of Perry (or Zumaya), lefty Brad Thomas was brought in to face switch-hitting Brian Roberts and the left-handed batting Nick Markakis to start the seventh. Both reached base, on a single and walk, respectively.

"The most critical at-bat of the game was the walk to Markakis," Leyland said. "If we get him out, that changes the game."

And because Perry wasn't available, Leyland may have tried to squeeze six innings out of starter Brad Penny before a score-tying, two-run home run in the sixth forced a pitching change. Rookie Brayan Villarreal walked the first batter he faced but retired the next two to preserve the tie.

"In fairness," Leyland said, "our bullpen hasn't been out there very much. Obviously they will be."

Leyland had been toying with the idea of using the hard-throwing Villarreal as his seventh-inning guy in Perry's absence, but he needed him earlier.

Not wanting to extend Villarreal or bring in eighth-inning man Joaquin Benoit early, the choice of Enrique Gonzalez didn't work out. Gonzalez gave up an RBI single, a sacrifice fly and a two-run double before Daniel Schlereth was brought in to give up an RBI single on his way to getting the third out.

Maybe the same thing would have happened to Perry -- but Leyland would have taken his chances finding out.

Copyright (C) 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.