Right-hander Anibal Sanchez was removed from Thursday's game against the Braves in the fifth inning with right shoulder discomfort.
Sanchez, who did not accompany the Marlins to Colorado after the game for the start of a six-game road trip, left Dolphin Stadium before the end of the Braves' 4-2 victory to be examined by team doctors. He was expected to have an X-ray and an MRI. "It wasn't good when he walked from the field," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He was in obvious pain."
Sanchez had surgery on his right shoulder on June 21, 2007, and returned on July 31, 2008. With the loss to Atlanta, he is 1-4 with a 5.79 ERA.
The Marlins already are short-handed in their rotation. They didn't have success with rookie Graham Taylor, who was optioned to Class AA Jacksonville after three rough starts replacing Andrew Miller. Miller, out with a right oblique strain, is expected to rejoin the rotation May 16.
Now the Marlins will have to find a replacement for Sanchez. Candidates include two relievers: Hayden Penn and Burke Badenhop.
BRAVES 4, MARLINS 2: SS Hanley Ramirez hit two home runs Thursday, but the Marlins suffered a bigger loss than the game. RHP Anibal Sanchez allowed two home runs and four runs before he left in the fifth inning with shoulder pain. Marlins starters have now gone 0-10 during a 20-game streak in which none of them has recorded a win.
