May 22, 2008 - 11:26 AM
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Gagne has been shut down with tightness and inflammation in his right shoulder, according to a report published Thursday by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
One day after exiting Tuesday's contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to shoulder pain, Gagne left the Brewers to visit team physician William Raasch, who decided that the righthander should return to Milwaukee for further evaluation.
"It's all in the front of the shoulder," Gagne told the Journal Sentinel. "Now we're just waiting to see. It's just one of those things (where) you usually warm up and it goes away, but it was getting tighter and tighter.
"There's not structural damage. If it's in the front of the shoulder, that's always good. It's more muscular and inflammation."
The Brewers did not comment on the report when contacted by PA SportsTicker, although a team spokesman said that Gagne has not been placed on the disabled list.
Gagne entered Tuesday's game in the ninth inning with a 7-0 lead but could not finish off the Pirates. He allowed two runs and two hits while retiring only two batters and left complaining of tightness in his shoulder.
On May 11, Brewers manager Ned Yost temporarily removed Gagne from the closer's role to give the former All-Star a "mental break." Two days later, Gagne tossed a scoreless inning to record his 10th save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Overall, however, Gagne has struggled after signing a one-year, $10 million free agent contract prior to the season. He is 1-2 with a 6.98 ERA in 20 appearances for Milwaukee and has blown five saves in 15 opportunities.
