SEATTLE -- Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Monday that former closer Fernando Rodney, who allowed four home runs over his last eight appearances, may have been tipping his pitches.
The long ball has bitten Rodney in a big way. He's allowed eight home runs in 39 2/3 innings this year, compared to eight over 207 2/3 innings his previous three seasons combined. Rodney lost the closer's role to rookie Carson Smith in early June and pitched well as a setup man for a stretch, but has seen his ERA rise to 5.90 and suffered his fifth blown save of the season on a two-run homer to Toronto's Ezequiel Carrera in his last outing, on Saturday.