Tigers place Downs on DL, recall Reed from Toledo

CLEVELAND -- The Tigers had to scramble to make a last-minute move in their bullpen Sunday morning, placing left-hander Darin Downs on the 15-day disabled list with left rotator cuff tendinitis.

On most road trips, the Tigers would've had to go a man short in their bullpen for a day before a replacement could arrive. In this case, with Triple-A Toledo down the highway from Cleveland, they recalled right-hander Evan Reed and got him to Progressive Field in time for the game.

Downs reported soreness in his shoulder after pitching the ninth inning of Saturday's 9-4 win. He gave up two runs on two hits, including a home run, with a strikeout. His velocity appeared to be normal.

"I was suspicious of it yesterday," manager Jim Leyland said. "I mean, you don't bounce that many balls in the dirt unless something's not right. It's just not exactly right. When a guy's as wild as he was yesterday, you better make sure you check to see if he's all right."

Downs has been on a roller-coaster ride in the Tigers' bullpen over the past month and a half. He made only one appearance in a three-week stretch from May 24 to June 14, then pitched five times in 11 days while Tigers starters struggled with early exits. He had settled into a more regular routine over the last week or so and appeared to be healthy.

Downs has allowed 19 earned runs on 36 hits over 33 innings, walking 10 and striking out 37. The two runs Saturday pushed his ERA to 5.18.