Injured calf lands reliever Eyre on the disabled list

Scott Eyre threw two pitches to one batter yet walked away with the decision in the Phillies' 6-3 win over the New York Mets on Thursday night.

For the lefthander, it was the walking part that hurt.

The Phillies placed Eyre on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with a strained left calf muscle. He was replaced on the roster by Kyle Kendrick, who was called up from triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Manager Charlie Manuel said Eyre suffered the injury when he ran out of the bullpen toward the mound at Citi Field. Manuel said that Eyre had tightness in the muscle earlier in the season, but that it hadn't bothered him much.

"When he came running out of the bullpen, he said, that's when he pulled it," Manuel said before the Phillies opened a three-game series against Boston last night. "When he came off the field, he said, 'I hurt my calf.' He got it checked today, and we had to put him on the DL."

Eyre has been used in late-inning situations, mostly against lefthanders and frequently facing one or two batters. He got key outs in both wins against the Mets and has pitched 14 innings in 25 appearances.

Eyre's injury gives Kendrick a chance to resuscitate his career, although he'll have to adjust to an entirely new role because the 24-year-old has primarily been a starter.

"No matter if you're in the bullpen or starting, I just want to be in the big leagues, and I'm happy to be here," said Kendrick, who was 4-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 12 starts at Lehigh Valley. "I'm glad to be back, I know that. I'll learn from the guys out there [in the bullpen], ask questions, and pitch some big innings, hopefully, and help win some games."

As for making the adjustment to the bullpen, Kendrick said, "You've got to get ready earlier, and you've got to get ready quick."

Kendrick showed promise in 2007, when he led National League rookies in wins with a 10-4 record. He began last season in the starting rotation and was 8-3 before the all-star break. Then he went into a tailspin and eventually lost his spot in the rotation. He had a 7.59 ERA and 3-6 record his final 11 starts.

As he tried to add a change-up to his repertoire, Kendrick struggled through most of training camp and didn't come north with the Phillies.

"The way our bullpen is right now and how we're using them, we need some length, someone to go anywhere from one to five innings," Manuel said. "You get beat up a little bit, and we're going to need somebody to throw multiple innings."

With Eyre out, the only lefthanders in the bullpen are J.C. Romero and Jack Taschner. Manuel said that Taschner, seldom used of late, would get more innings. On Wednesday against the Mets, Taschner made his first appearance in nearly two weeks.