Mariners place Gutierrez on 7-day concussion DL
Jun 29, 2012, 4:40 PM | Updated: 5:57 pm
Franklin Gutierrez was hit behind his right ear by a pickoff throw during Thursday's game against the Red Sox. (AP)
(AP)
By Jacob Thorpe
Special to 710Sports.com
The Mariners will again be without center fielder Franklin Gutierrez, who has been placed on the new seven-day disabled list created by MLB this year to help teams deal with player concussions.
The Mariners made the announcement Friday.
A pickoff throw by Boston’s Franklin Morales hit Gutierrez behind his right ear in the fourth inning of Thursday’s game, and Gutierrez spent the night in the hospital for precautionary reasons, according to manager Eric Wedge. Gutierrez will have to miss at least one week, after which the team can decide whether or not to extend his time on the disabled list another seven days.
Replacing Gutierrez on the roster will be right-handed reliever Steve Delabar, who was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma. The 28-year-old Delabar has a 4.78 ERA in 26 appearances this season.
Outfielder Michael Saunders is not in the lineup on Friday due to flu-like symptoms, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com. As long as the Mariners are shorthanded in the outfield, utility infielder Munenori Kawasaki will provide depth.
Delabar will take the bullpen spot of long-reliever Hisashi Iwakuma, who is starting on Monday in place of Kevin Millwood, who is out with a sore groin muscle. Iwakuma, who will be making his first Major League start on Monday, has a 4.75 ERA over 30.1 innings with 23 strikeouts in a relief role this year.
