Tampa Bay Rays put catcher Jose Lobaton on disabled list

BOSTON — The Rays decided they couldn't wait any longer for C Jose Lobaton's sore shoulder to feel better.

They put Lobaton on the 15-day disabled list Saturday and called up Chris Gimenez, who will be activated from the Triple-A disabled list (testicular bruise), added to the 40-man roster and put in the starting lineup for today's game against the Red Sox.

Gimenez, 29, was a late signing before spring training after being designated for assignment by the Mariners on Feb. 7. He has started 42 games (and played in 97 overall) for Seattle and Cleveland — though with only a .171 batting average — and was sent down near the end of spring training. "He had a nice spring for us, and he has a nice feel behind the plate," manager Joe Maddon said.

The Rays were forced to make a move because they have to limit veteran Jose Molina's innings, and he played three consecutive days, taking over Thursday when Molina left, then playing Friday and Saturday. They don't consider rookie Stephen Vogt advanced enough defensively.

"We have to be protected there," Maddon said. "We can't catch J-Mo all these games in a row."

The Rays wanted Lobaton to try throwing Saturday, but he said the shoulder didn't feel good enough to try. "I don't think it's a good day to throw," he said.

Maddon said the injury was "not awful" but Lobaton was "not going to be ready to play in the really near future."

COBB UP: RHP Alex Cobb was called up late Saturday to replace RHP Dane De La Rosa, who had a rough debut, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks in his inning of work, and forgetting to cover first on what became an infield single.

Cobb, effective as a fill-in starter last year (3-2, 3.42 in nine games) before surgery to remove a blood clot and part of his rib, was 0-1, 2.25 in two starts for Triple-A Durham. He presumably will be added to a bullpen that has been used heavily.

De La Rosa was called up Friday to replace RHP Josh Lueke, who struggled in two outings.

MORE MOORE: The last time Matt Moore pitched at Fenway Park, he was an unproven rookie in his second big-league appearance, and his three innings of one-run work in a key September game gave him "peace of mind" that he could handle tough situations. He went on to start in Yankee Stadium and then the playoff opener in Texas.

Now he's back, looking to improve today on his first start this season, in which he threw 106 pitches over 6⅔ innings at Detroit. "It was a decent outing as far as attacking hitters," Moore said. "I feel like I still was behind in the count here and there too often."

Maddon said he was pleased with Moore's performance but he would have liked to have seen a little more velocity. "He did not have his best fastball, but he still pitched deeply into the game against a good team," Maddon said. "Just if you see some 95s, 96s pop that he's feeling a little bit better with his velocity."

LESS IS MORE: RHP Joel Peralta shaved the goatee he'd had for nearly five years, a byproduct of his 37.80 ERA and .500 opponents average. "It's the worst start of my career," he said. "So something's got to go."

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MISCELLANY: CF B.J. Upton (sore back) was hitless in his first four at-bats in a second straight game for Class A Charlotte, a key stage in his rehabilitation assignment. … The Rays lost while scoring at least five runs for the first time since July 25, 2011, a span that covered 32 wins. … Due to technical issues, Sun Sports had to delay the debut of its Inside the Rays Game 162 special until after Monday's game. … OF Sam Fuld, recovering from wrist surgery, was at the game, making the trip to visit his family in New Hampshire. … Principal owner Stuart Sternberg was also on hand. … All Rays players and coaches will wear No. 42 today as part of the major-league-wide celebration of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in 1947. … Vogt tied the team record for most hitless at-bats to start a career at 12; worse, it is held by pitcher Jeff Niemann. Ben Zobrist was 0-for-11.