The Mariners Tuesday recalled INF/OF Dustin Ackley from AAA Tacoma and placed OF Franklin Gutierrez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Ackley, optioned to the Rainiers May 26, was available for Tuesday night’s game with the Pittsburgh Pirates at Safeco Field, the first of two.
Gutierrez, 30, appeared in games Saturday and Sunday after being activated from the disabled list. He went on the disabled list April 23 with the same injury. In 18 games this season, Gutierrez is batting .267 (16×60) with four doubles, five home runs and 11 RBIs.
After hitting a home run and a double Saturday, Gutierrez Sunday in the fourth inning chased down a fly ball into the wall before caught, but continued to play. He came out of the game in the sixth inning.
Before Saturday’s game, Gutierrez told reporters that doctors discovered a genetic disorder that was causing arthritis-like inflammation that was the source of his leg pain. Medication had returned him almost to normal, he said.
“I’m disappointed, like we all are,” manager Eric Wedge told reporters before the game. “Nobody is more disappointed than he is. I’m sure the frustration is just off the charts for him. I can only imagine. But it is what it is, so we’ll get back to work on it and go from there.”
Ackley, 25, hit .365 (38×104) with eight doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs in 25 games with the Rainiers after being optioned to the minors. A second baseman for the bulk of his major league career, Ackley made the transition to the outfield with Tacoma, making 12 starts in the outfield (CF 9, LF 3). He recorded at least one hit in 21 of 25 games with Tacoma, including 12 multi-hit games.
In 45 games with the Mariners, Ackley batted .205 (32×156) with four doubles, one home run and eight RBIs.
Lefty Joe Saunders (5-7, 4.48) faced Jeff Locke (6-1, 2.01) Tuesday night as the Mariners try to extend their winning streak to three games.