Tigers Lose P Alburquerque To DL

DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit Tigers placed right-hander Al Alburquerque on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation in his right forearm, leaving the team without the reliever who has confounded American League hitters for most of the season with his sharp slider.

Alburquerque is 5-1 with a 2.79 ERA. He 47 strikeouts in 29 innings, holding opponents to a .157 slugging percentage.

Manager Jim Leyland recently called the rookie a "godsend" and said if it weren't for him, Detroit would be six or seven games worse off.

Leyland said Friday he expects Alburquerque to return quickly after the All-Star break.

"I think Alburquerque will be right back," Leyland said. "We went on the cautious side."

The Tigers recalled right-hander Lester Oliveros from Triple-A Toledo.

The DL move is retroactive to Thursday.

Alburquerque has looked shakier recently. He gave up two hits against Arizona on Sunday and allowed three runs in 1 1-3 innings Wednesday night against the New York Mets. He threw a season-high 42 pitches against the Mets.

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