Right-hander Joakim Soria's shoulder is a concern again, enough to put him on the disabled list this time.
The Royals went nine days without pitching Soria because of a sore right shoulder before using him on back-to-back dates May 2-3 at Minnesota. He pitched again on Thursday (May 7) in picking up a save against the Mariners while throwing 29 pitches to get out of a bases-loaded jam. The next day, Soria reported his shoulder was aching again. After not using him in a weekend series at Anaheim, the Royals placed him on the 15-day disabled list after the game Sunday. It was made retroactive to Friday (May 8).
"We've been going day-to-day as you know," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "It's a little bit of a strain of the rotator cuff that he's going through."
Soria was the Royals' lone representative in the All-Star game last year, when he saved 42 games in 45 opportunities and had a 1.60 earned run average.
The Royals recalled Luke Hochevar, who was 5-0 with a 0.90 ERA with Class AAA Omaha in the Pacific Coast League. Hochevar will move into the rotation, replacing righty Sidney Ponson. Hillman said Ponson, who was 1-4 with a 5.91 ERA in six starts, will go to the bullpen.
The Royals are hopeful 15 days of rest will help Soria's shoulder condition and calm down the inflammation.
Hillman said he would go to a closer by committee in Soria's absence. Soria had pitched in only three of the past 16 games and went nine days without appearing in a game because of the sore shoulder.
ANGELS 4, ROYALS 3: Jamey Wright made a costly throwing error in the seventh, leading to three runs, only one earned, and a blown save. In the ninth, Angels center fielder Torii Hunter made a leaping catch over-the-wall to rob Miguel Olivo of a game-tying home run. Mark Teahen, Coco Crisp and Mike Jacobs each had two hits for the Royals.
