DETROIT -- The Twins sent right-hander Kyle Lohse to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, the latest move made by Minnesota to shake up a struggling rotation.
Lohse, whose salary this season is $3.95 million after beating the team in an arbitration hearing for the second straight year, is 2-4 with an 8.92 ERA in eight starts. A starter since the second half of the 2001 season, Lohse has allowed 57 hits and 19 walks in 38 1/3 innings while striking out 24.
Right-hander Boof Bonser was recalled from Rochester. The 24-year-old, who is 3-2 with a 2.01 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings over eight starts for the Red Wings, will join the Twins in Milwaukee on Friday and is scheduled to make his major-league debut on Sunday against the Brewers.
On Monday, Minnesota sent right-hander Carlos Silva to the bullpen temporarily to give him time to fix a sinker that's been his best pitch in the past but hasn't worked at all this year. Budding star lefty Francisco Liriano was promoted to take his place and will start Friday against Milwaukee.
The Twins' rotation brought a collective 6.64 ERA into Wednesday night's game at Detroit, by far the worst mark in the majors. All-Star Johan Santana has been the only one who has consistently pitched well.
Brad Radke, Silva and Lohse -- the second, third and fourth starters when the season began -- are making a combined $16.15 million. That's more than one-fourth of Minnesota's payroll. Radke is 4-4 with a 7.57 ERA, and Silva is 2-6 with an 8.80 ERA.