Padres call on another bullpen reinforcement

By: DAN HAYES - Staff Writer | Wednesday, June 27, 2007 11:07 PM PDT ∞

SAN FRANCISCO -- When Padres reliever Doug Brocail strained a muscle last week, he knew he would have to go on the disabled list -- even though he'd be recovered after several days.

Brocail said the team, in the midst of a stretch of nine games in nine days, couldn't afford to be an arm down. The Padres responded by recalling Royce Ring from Triple-A Portland.

But Brocail couldn't have anticipated the bullpen being stretched this thin.

With Padres relievers having pitched 28 1/3 innings in the previous nine games, the Padres on Wednesday summoned another fresh arm, bringing up right-hander Mike Thompson from Portland. Thompson took the roster spot of third baseman Chase Headley, who was optioned back to Double-A San Antonio.

"We brought Mike back for reinforcements," Padres manager Bud Black said. "If the game goes extra innings, we're a little undermanned. It was necessary to bolster our 'pen."

The stint is the second this season for Thompson, who posted a 7.84 ERA in five outings with the Padres before returning to Portland on April 19. Thompson, who was 2-6 with a 6.86 ERA for the Beavers, got late word of the move and arrived in San Francisco at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

"It was another one of those fun adventures," he said.

Linebrink's short memory Ý

Black and Scott Linebrink are unconcerned about the recent stretch in which the usually reliable setup man yielded a run in three consecutive games, raising his ERA from 1.99 to 2.60.

Black and Linebrink agree that the pitcher's stuff is not the issue, and that he needs to continue attacking hitters.

"Those things happen," Linebrink said. "The important thing is to forget it. I don't think there's anything to dwell on. It's a new day; move on.

"Come back out and stay aggressive. ... It's not something you want to take home. I did go home and got a good night's sleep and I think a lot of it had to do with us coming back and winning the game (Tuesday)."

Black said Linebrink might require only "a little fine-tuning." He noted that Linebrink got beat Tuesday by a 15-foot ground ball and a blooper before Dave Roberts' liner up the middle in the eighth inning.

"He'll be the first to tell you he's not locating the fastball like he's capable," Black said. "But you have to look at how the results occurred." Ý

Et cetera

RHP Heath Bell threw 31 pitches in the eighth inning Wednesday, increasing his total to 121 in the Padres' last eight games, five of which he has appeared in. "My arm feels good," Bell said. "It's nice to have a day off and I'll probably get Friday off." ... OF Terrmel Sledge is listed as day-to-day with a thumb strain, but said he feels fine. ... The Padres improved to 13-7 in day games. ... By recording his 20th save Tuesday, RHP Trevor Hoffman tied Lee Smith's record of 13 seasons with 20 or more saves.