HBT: Mariner flies to Japan 'for personal reasons'

Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma has left the team and traveled back to Japan for undisclosed ?personal reasons.?

Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times reports that Iwakuma is expected to rejoin the team in time to make his next scheduled start, which is Monday against the Blue Jays, and might even be back in the United States as soon as Saturday.

Iwakuma was an afterthought for the Mariners? pitching staff early on this season, often going long stretches without being used, but he eventually got an opportunity for a regular role and has thrown 51 innings with a 4.56 ERA split between the rotation and bullpen.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/27/hisashi-iwakuma-leaves-mariners-and-travels-to-japan-for-personal-reasons/related/

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