Phils option struggling Floyd to Minors

Gavin Floyd's performance on Thursday was enough for the Phillies to option the struggling right-hander to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was replaced by left-hander Eude Brito, who had been called up to start on Saturday in place of Jon Lieber.

Cole Hamels made a rehab start on Thursday for Class A Lakewood and likely will start on Tuesday, Floyd's regular day.

After winning a job by posting a 3.16 ERA in Spring Training, Floyd consistently stumbled during the regular season. Thursday's performance continued the common theme of falling behind and missing spots.

"He's a one-pitch pitcher right now, and he's had trouble getting his breaking ball over," manager Charlie Manuel said after the game. "He has a good breaking ball, but (he) has trouble repeating it."

The right-hander suffered through another short night, lasting four innings, and got pounded in a 7-2 loss to the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Floyd allowed all seven runs on seven hits and four walks, including three home runs.

"It's rough," Floyd said after the game. "I'm having some rough times right now."

For the second straight start, Floyd didn't last five innings, and he hasn't worked six innings since May 5. His ERA rose to an NL-high 7.29 and was the second-highest in the Majors to Carlos Silva's 7.81.

Over his past four starts, Floyd posted an 11.09 ERA.

"I look at a guy who's young and is having a hard time getting established at the Major League level," Manuel said. "He needs more experience. This guy is going to be a big-league pitcher. I knew there would be some growing pains. That's part of it."

This is the second straight poor campaign for Floyd, who compiled a 6.16 ERA with the Red Barons last season, leading to whispers of concern from those who made him the fourth overall pick in the June 2001 draft.

"I'm trying to dominate out there, and it's going the opposite," Floyd said after Thursday's game. "Anytime you give up a home run, you're frustrated and (ticked) off. If I had executed that pitch, things could've gone the other way. I left another ball up, and (Dodgers outfielder J.D. Drew) turned on it."

With Floyd and Lieber out, this leaves the Phillies rotation at Brett Myers, Cory Lidle, Hamels, Ryan Madson and Brito. When Lieber returns in roughly three weeks, Brito will likely head to Triple-A.