Less than 24 hours after his infamous inning, left-hander Jimmy Gobble was placed on the disabled list with a stiff lower back.

Gobble gave up 10 runs, a Royals record for most runs by a relief pitcher in a game, in the eighth in a 19-4 loss Monday to the Tigers.

Manager Trey Hillman said Gobble reported straight to trainer Nick Swartz when he arrived to the park Tuesday to report the stiff back.

"We don't project this to be anything major, but nonetheless it is affecting his performance," Hillman said. "I think it is affecting his performance in relation to what people saw him do last year."

After leading the Royals in strikeouts in 2006 and going 4-1 with a 3.02 ERA in 74 relief appearances in 2007, Gobble is 0-2 with an 11.31 ERA this season. Opponents are hitting .318 off him in 31 relief appearances.

"There's still some old-school guys who believe you can't make the club in the tub," Hillman said. "You want guys to play with tweaks and be able to play with injuries, but there comes a point and time, which Jimmy reached, obviously, today that it is effecting his performance.

The plan is for Gobble to go to Class AAA Omaha, give his back a couple of days' rest, throw off the ground, and after two or three bullpen sessions, if he has no setbacks, he would pitch in Pacific Coast League games.

"Hopefully, he'll get back to the point where he feels like he can finish pitches and be more effective." Hillman said. "Hopefully, he'll be able get back on the mound soon and at some point in time get back here and help us."

TIGERS 7, ROYALS 1: Kyle Davies held the Tigers to two runs and five hits but left after four innings because his pitch count had reached 96. Joel Peralta replaced him and labored through a 37-pitch fifth inning when Detroit scored three runs. Mark Grudzielanek had three of the four hits off Tigers LHP Kenny Rogers. A Ross Gload throwing error in the ninth led to two unearned Tigers runs. Rain in the seventh inning stopped the action for 2 hours, 20 minutes.

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