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Oakland Athletics

24-22,
2nd AL West

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Athletics Team Report

Yahoo! Sports - 9 hours, 28 minutes ago

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Chris Young returned to Oakland's lineup on Saturday, but the outfielder is still not contributing much, and another recent returnee, Coco Crisp, also hasn't caught fire since coming off the DL.

The A's had three everyday-caliber outfielders out at once, with Crisp (hamstring) and Young (quadriceps) both going on the DL on April 30 and Josh Reddick (wrist) joining them on May 7.

With the three out, the lone remaining regular outfielder, Yoenis Cespedes, really struggled, appearing as if he was trying to do too much, especially during a career-high 0-for-18 stretch.

It was hoped that Crisp's return, in particular, would turn Cespedes around. And it has. Cespedes has hit the ball hard since Wednesday. On Sunday, he singled and scored in the fourth inning and belted a solo homer in the eighth, the game-winner in Oakland's 4-3 victory over the Royals. On Monday, he went 1-for-3 with an RBI in a 9-2 victory over Texas.

Crisp's single in the first inning Sunday ended an 0-for-10 streak since coming off the DL, and he drove in the tying run in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly, but overall, he is batting .274 after a 3-for-5 performance Monday night.

Young is 2-for-10 with a walk since his return and he is batting .175 overall.

Reddick, meanwhile, could be a week or so away from returning from the DL. He hit off a tee on Saturday and could take batting practice toward the end of this week, then go on a short rehab assignment if all goes well.

Record:

24-22

Streak:

Won four

Past 10 Games:

6-4

NEXT: Rangers (RHP Yu Darvish, 7-1, 2.97) vs. A's (RHP Dan Straily, 1-2, 7.27)

Player Notes:

DH Seth Smith reached base safely four times on a pair of walks, single and home run. He scored a season-high three runs. He hit a home run in his first at-bat, after entering Monday's game 1-for-20 in his career at Rangers Ballpark.
RHP Dan Straily is making his sixth start of the season Tuesday. He was recalled May 1 from Triple-A Sacramento for his third stint this season with Oakland.
RHP Bartolo Colon allowed two runs and six hits in Monday's 9-2 win over Texas. He improved to 4-2 on the season and 19-7 lifetime against Texas, Colon's most wins against any team. He's also won six straight decisions at Rangers Ballpark. "We kept through fighting at-bats the whole game and Bartolo did his thing," manager Bob Melvin said.
OF Josh Reddick (wrist) could avoid surgery and close in on a rehab assignment if he continues to make progress this week. Manager Bob Melvin is hopeful Reddick joins the team Friday in Houston for batting practice. Out since May 6, he's eligible to come off the DL Wednesday.
C John Jaso hasn't caught since being hit in the right shin by a pitch on May 15. He did start at DH Saturday, but was out of the lineup again Monday. Melvin hopes the day off has Jaso ready to start Tuesday.
RHP Chris Resop cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento. The 30-year-old reliever started the season strong, not allowing an earned run in his first seven appearances. He did give up 12 in his last 11 games for a 9.26 ERA during that stretch. The A's wanted to keep Resop for bullpen depth.
CF Coco Crisp hit safely in each of his first three at-bats, matching a season high with three hits. He had totaled one hit in his first four games since returning from the disabled list last Wednesday. Crisp is batting .345 (19-55) on the road this season.
LF Yoenis Cespedes reached base safely three times on a pair of walks and a double. He is a career .338 (26-77) hitter against the Rangers. He successfully stole second base in the first inning, snapping a streak of four straight unsuccessful steal attempts that dated back to last season.
RF Chris Young tallied his first two hits since returning from the disabled list on Saturday. He was 0-5 in his first two starts off the DL.

Quote To Note:

"My whole career I've pitched well against Texas. I like pitching here. I don't know why, but I do. I want to pitch here and I like to pitch here."

—RHP Bartolo Colon, who allowed two runs in Monday's 9-2 win over Texas. He is 19-7 lifetime against Texas, Colon's most wins against any team. He's also won six straight at Rangers Ballpark.

Medical Watch:

C John Jaso (stiff leg) remained unable to catch on May 20 because of a sore right leg incurred May 15. Jaso was available to pinch hit. Manager Bob Melvin hopes Jaso is ready to start May 21.
RF Josh Reddick (sprained right wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 7. He hit off a tee with a fungo bat and baseball bat on May 18, but he is not expected to come off the DL when eligible on May 22. He must take batting practice and then would go on at least a short rehab assignment. Manager Bob Melvin is hopeful Reddick joins the team May 24 in Houston for batting practice.
LHP Brett Anderson (sprained right ankle, stress fracture of the navicular bone in his right foot) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 30. He made a rehab start for Double-A Midland on May 12. He threw a bullpen session May 14. He will miss more than a month with a right stress fracture, the team announced May 17. Anderson, who had initially been expected to come off the DL on May 17, said he felt pain on the other side of the same foot while running on May 13. His foot will be immobilized in a boot for four weeks and then re-evaluated, and then he will need to rehab and build back up his innings, making a return date unlikely before late June. There is a chance the injury will require surgery if it has not begun to heal in four weeks when next examined; surgery would end Anderson's season.
OF Chris Young (strained left quad) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 30. He played seven innings in an extended spring training game May 13. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento May 16. Young's return from the DL was delayed one day because Young experienced lower-leg cramping in a rehab game with Triple-A Sacramento on May 16. He was activated May 18.
SS/2B Hiro Nakajima (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on May 3.
2B Scott Sizemore (torn left anterior cruciate ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list April 10, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 22. He had season-ending surgery April 16.
RHP Fernando Rodriguez (torn ulnar collateral ligament in right elbow) went on the 60-day disabled list March 23. He had season-ending Tommy John surgery March 25.
RHP Andrew Carignan (Tommy John surgery in July 2012) began a throwing program in the fall. The non-roster reliever could be pitching again by midseason if his recovery continues to go well.