CHICAGO -- Orioles starting pitcher Adam Loewen was scheduled to return to Baltimore this weekend to have his ailing left elbow looked at by team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens.
Orioles manager Dave Trembley said he knows little about the severity of the injury or whether it's related to the stress fracture in Loewen's left elbow that required surgery last June. He also declined to name Loewen's replacement in the starting rotation.
Loewen, who was 0-1 with a 7.85 ERA through four starts, complained of forearm soreness after giving up five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.
He was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with what was called left elbow soreness, and the contract of middle infielder Eider Torres was purchased from Triple-A Norfolk. Torres, a 25-year-old who had never been in the majors before joining the Orioles here last night, was batting .338 in 18 games for Norfolk.
Trembley said he isn't sure how Torres will be used yet, but he was more ready for the call-up then Alex Cintron, who is still recovering from elbow surgery, and Scott Moore, whom the club wants to get regular at-bats. Torres could be in for a short stay in the majors if the Orioles call up a pitcher from Norfolk - Garrett Olson would be the likely candidate - to take Loewen's spot. Loewen was scheduled to pitch Tuesday.
"There's a couple of possibilities," said Trembley, whose internal options are long relievers Matt Albers and Jim Johnson. "One is going to Triple-A and getting a guy, one is starting a guy here out of the bullpen and [then] filling a bullpen slot here. I'm not going to make that decision until probably Sunday."
This week, Trembley said he would have no problem giving Albers another spot start, but he felt he was too valuable to the bullpen to put the right-hander in the rotation long-term.
A lot of it could depend on how long Loewen is out. He was visibly distraught after his start but said he didn't think the pain was anything serious.
"I think he's probably to the point where he's really frustrated," Trembley said. "There's a reason why his command was the way it was. I've heard his quotes about the rust, but the rust for me couldn't have been the sole reason he was having command problems. It had to be something other than that."
Fired up
