Zumaya's future in doubt

NEW YORK -- Joel Zumaya's season is in limbo, and his long-range future is in doubt. Zumaya left Friday night's game after feeling a pop in his right shoulder in the seventh inning. Zumaya gave up five hits, including a three-run homer to Mark Teixeira, in his one inning of work. He threw 37 pitches in the inning. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, and the Detroit Tigers recalled rookie reliever Ryan Perry from the Toledo Mud Hens. "This has been a nightmare for this kid for two or three years," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "The shoulder's not the same; we know that. The arm slot's been different. He's trying to drop down and push it rather than coming back over the top." Zumaya was 3-3 with a 4.94 ERA, and had four blown saves in his past nine appearances. "He could be back pitching in two weeks or he could miss the rest of the year," Leyland said. "He's had major issues one after another. Your heart goes out to him. But you are talking about a career." Zumaya, 24, was scheduled for a magnetic resonance imaging test in Detroit. Leyland said he saw nothing recently to indicate shoulder problems. "It's hard to assume that something isn't right when a guy's pitching 98 and 100 (mph)," he said. Leyland brought Zumaya in for the seventh inning instead of his usual eighth-inning spot Friday. "I was going to reverse him and (Brandon) Lyon for a bit, maybe not as much pressure," Leyland said. Lyon, after a very slow start, has a 1.98 ERA in his last 21 outings. Perry improved at Toledo Perry was sent to Toledo to work on his control and slider, and improved significantly in terms of cutting down on walks. He was 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA, and four walks and 12 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings. Perry was 0-1 with a 4.28 ERA, and 21 walks and 25 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings earlier this season with Detroit. "He's been hot and cold," Leyland said. "He's done OK. He was the definite choice." Asked about his improved strikeout-to-walk ratio, Leyland said, "Minor league players swing at balls. They don't up here." Perry arrived in time for Saturday's game, but did not pitch. "I made more progress with my control than my slider," Perry said. "I'm falling off the mound rather than following through on that pitch. I'm trying to get more movement on the pitch, and that's a bad habit I have to break." Leyland will use Perry mostly in the seventh inning. "Hopefully, Perry or (left-hander) Bobby Seay can get us to Lyon," Leyland said. "If there are all left-handers in the eighth, you might use Bobby Seay. And, hopefully, we'll get more innings from our starters." Seven-inning outings from starters do wonders for bullpens, and that's what Justin Verlander gave the Tigers on Saturday. Seay set down Johnny Damon, Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez in order in the eighth for a career-best 22nd consecutive scoreless outing. Todd Jones, in 2000, was the last Detroit reliever to have 22 consecutive appearances without allowing a run. Rivera keeps rolling Mariano Rivera's 21 consecutive converted save opportunities is the second-longest current streak in the majors. Detroit closer Fernando Rodney's 22 consecutive (19 this year) is the current standard.