Affeldt goes on disabled list with groin strain

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants left-hander Jeremy Affeldt's strained left groin could sideline him for as long as four to six weeks, manager Bruce Bochy announced Sunday.

Though Affeldt had endured inconsistency this season, his absence robs the Giants of one of their most versatile relievers. As Bochy pointed out, Affeldt's capable of pitching multiple innings and at different junctures of the game.

"It's too bad this happened, because he's an important part of the bullpen," Bochy said of Affeldt, who's 1-4 with a 3.51 ERA in 38 appearances.

The Giants recalled right-hander Jean Machi from Triple-A Fresno for the fourth time this season to fill the bullpen vacancy Affeldt created. Machi compiled a 2-0 record and a 3.58 ERA in 26 games during his previous Giants stints.

Affeldt, 34, went on the DL twice with left groin strains while pitching for Kansas City in 2005. He revealed that he had sensed some discomfort in his groin area for a few weeks but remained able to pitch, mainly because the nagging feeling didn't affect his delivery.

Affeldt didn't second-guess himself for continuing to perform, though he did say, "Sometimes being a tough guy doesn't work out."

That was the case in Saturday night's sixth inning against Arizona. After retiring Cliff Pennington on a fly ball for the inning's second out, Affeldt flung a 3-1 sinker to pinch-hitter A.J. Pollock and staggered off the mound in obvious pain, grabbing his injured area.

Affeldt, who has been prone to freak accidents, maintained his sense of humor by noting, "I got hurt on the field, which is comforting for me. It's better than getting out of the car and pulling it."