Padres' Bass exits with inflamed shoulder
The San Diego Padres might have lost another starting pitcher Wednesday.
Right-hander Anthony Bass departed his start against the Texas Rangers after five solid innings and 60 pitches with an inflamed right shoulder. The severity of Bass' injury was unknown, and the pitcher will meet with team physicians Thursday, although no MRI is planned.
"Hopefully, this is just an inflammation," manager Bud Black said after the Padres' 4-2 loss to the Rangers. "We want to let this thing play out a couple days and see where we are."
But the team's history with arm ailments this season is not good.
The Padres currently have six starting pitchers on the major league disabled list and three more top pitching prospects on the minor league disabled list.
The Padres have already lost three pitchers for the season -- left-hander Cory Luebke (elbow reconstruction surgery) and right-hander Dustin Moseley (shoulder surgery) from the major league roster and left-handed prospect Juan Pablo Oramas (elbow reconstruction surgery).
Right-hander Tim Stauffer (strained flexor tendon) has made only one start sandwiched by two lengthy tours on the disabled list.
Also on the Padres' disabled list are left-handers Joe Wieland (elbow strain) and Eric Stults (strained latissimus dorsi muscle) and right-hander Micah Owings (triceps strain), while minor-leaguers Casey Kelly and Robbie Erlin are rehabbing elbow strains.
What's worse, Bass allowed one run on three hits and one walk over five innings Wednesday after going 0-3 with a 8.89 ERA in his five previous starts.
"Everything was working again," Bass said.
