DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers played a waiting game with left-handed reliever Phil Coke.

They ran out of time.

Coke was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a left groin strain. To take his place in the bullpen, the Tigers recalled right-handed reliever Jose Ortega from Triple-A Toledo.

Coke, who won't be traveling with the team to Houston, hadn’t pitched since last Thursday when he tweaked an adductor muscle in his groin.

The Tigers initially listed him as day-to-day, but decided to place him on the DL following his brief throwing session in the outfield Tuesday night. The move is retroactive to April 26.

"That four- or five-day stuff. I've seen that all my life. It don't work," manager Jim Leyland said. "We can backdate it some and get him better and move on."

Coke is 0-3 with an 8.31 ERA, but four of the eight earned runs he has given up were in an extra-inning loss he took Thursday. He suffered the injury when he threw a changeup to Kansas City outfielder Jeff Francoeur in the 10th inning.

The move leaves the Tigers with only two left-handed relievers, Drew Smyly and Darin Downs, in their bullpen.

"I'll do whatever I think it takes to win the game," Leyland said. "That's what I'm trying to do."

Ortega has been impressive in Toledo, giving up only one unearned run on five hits over 14 innings. He was alerted about his promotion early Wednesday and will be available for today's afternoon game if needed.

"He's throwing gas," Leyland said. "He's really throwing well. And he's always had electric stuff. I'm anxious to see him."

It's the second stint in the majors for Ortega, who made one appearance for the Tigers last year, allowing a run on one hit in 2 1/3 innings. He struck out four batters and walked one.

Ortega, once again, caught Leyland's attention this spring when he struck out two and gave up only two runs in six appearances.

"We'll see if he can translate what he was doing down there up to the majors," Leyland said. "If he can, that would be a big help because he's got electric stuff."

He was 5-8 with a 5.74 ERA for Toledo last season, but walked 51 batters, which soured his impressive 68 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings. It's early, but Ortega appears to have dramatically improved his command, striking out 19 and walking only nine in 14 innings.

"Evidently, he must be doing a little something different," Leyland said. "I can't swear to that, but they said he's really throwing good."

It's the second time in three weeks the Tigers have placed a veteran reliever on the 15-day disabled list. Detroit waited a half-dozen days for inflammation in Octavio Dotel's throwing arm to subside before placing on the disabled list, retroactive to April 20.

Dotel reportedly threw light toss Tuesday and is eligible to return to the Tigers this weekend.

"I can't stand day-to-day (statuses), I can't stand it," Leyland said. "I'm not saying techniques don't work, but I'm saying, normally, the injury will heal when time has taken care of it."

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