As expected, the Mariners Tuesday placed 1B Mike Carp on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin and recalled Justin Smoak from AAA Tacoma. Smoak, optioned July 23 while battling a 1-for-25 slump, had five hits in his last 10 at-bats for Rainiers and will be available Tuesday night when they host the Tampa Bay Rays in the second of a three-game series.
The 26-year-old Carp exited Sundays game at Los Angeles with discomfort after stretching for a throw in the fifth inning. In the 15 previous games back to July 26. Carp hit .308 (16×52) with three doubles and a homer in his previous 15 games. Carp has appeared in 49 games with the Mariners, batting .206 (29×141) with six doubles, two triples, five home runs and 20 RBIs.
This marks Carp’s third trip to the DL this season. His previous occupations stemmed from right shoulder injuries. Carp originally injured it diving on the artificial turf in Seattles season-opening game against the Oakland As in Tokyo.
Carp was on the disabled list from March 29-May 1 with a sprained right shoulder. After being activated from the DL, he hit .165 (13-for-79) with three doubles and four home runs in 31 games. He returned to the DL June 13-July 23 with inflammation in the same spot.
Despite spending nearly a month with the Rainiers, Smoak is still tied for the Mariners team lead in home runs (13), and is fourth on the club in RBIs (38) in 90 games.
In Tuesday night’s middle game, RHP Kevin Millwood (4-10, 4.38 ERA) will oppose LHP Matt Moore (9-7, 3.74). Millwood has won just once in his past 13 starts. Moore is 4-1 since the All-Star break.