PHILADELPHIA -- Roberto Perez's diving tag of Odubel Herrera at home plate in the fifth inning Saturday night was a spectacular play, but it came with a cost, as the catcher was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a right thumb injury.
Manager Terry Francona said Perez sustained a cut on his throwing hand as Herrera slid into home. Francona's not sure if it was caused by Herrera, Perez or the ground. X-rays on Saturday night showed "most likely" a broken bone in Perez's right hand, Francona said. Perez is getting an MRI on Sunday in Philadelphia, which should give the Indians more clarity on the severity of the injury.
"After the game, it really became more sore and swollen," Francona said.
Francona said in the best-case scenario, Perez would be out five to seven days. Despite the potentially short timetable, Cleveland called up Adam Moore from Triple-A Columbus prior to Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Phillies so they would have a healthy backup catcher.
"It's hard, knowing that something's going on in there, not to put him on the DL and get a catcher," Francona said.
Moore has been around. A former top prospect in the Mariners system, he's since played between Triple-A and the Majors for Kansas City and San Diego before signing a Minor League contract with Cleveland last offseason. In 330 at-bats last season with Columbus, Moore hit .282 with a .725 on-base-plus-slugging-percentage and six home runs.
In 45 at-bats this season, though, his OPS has dropped to .585. He'll serve as Yan Gomes' backup. With Gomes getting the day off on Saturday, it could be a few games before Moore sees the field.