Cook labors for first save
--RHP Ryan Cook earned his first career save with a scoreless ninth inning in Oakland's 8-5 win at Colorado, but there was drama. He walked a batter and gave up a single. With no outs, he was to face the Rockies' Nos. 3-4-5 hitters, but he struck out Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer and got Todd Helton on a grounder. "All in all, I liked it," he said about closing. "It was fun."
--RHP Brandon McCarthy might be returning to the disabled list with another shoulder ailment. He returned from the DL and won two starts, throwing 71 and 88 pitches, but felt soreness after his latest assignment and flew to the Bay Area, where he'll get an MRI. "He knows himself pretty well when he's sore, and he's been experiencing that the last couple of days," manager Bob Melvin said.
--LHP Tommy Milone will pitch Wednesday instead of Thursday, replacing injured RHP Brandon McCarthy. Because of Monday's off day, Milone will be pitching on his normal four days' rest. RHP Jarrod Parker also was bumped up, and he'll start Thursday. If McCarthy goes on the disabled list, he could be replaced by RHP Graham Godfrey or RHP Tyson Ross, both currently at Class AAA Sacramento.
--LF Yoenis Cespedes will return to the lineup Wednesday, manager Bob Melvin said. Cespedes hasn't played since Thursday, when he strained his left hamstring. He looked typically solid in Tuesday's batting practice. He was available off the bench Tuesday but was not used.
--DH Manny Ramirez hasn't been on the front burner lately because there has been no need for a designated hitter as the A's visited NL parks in Arizona and Colorado, but they're back in the DH business Friday when they host the Padres. Does that mean Ramirez could finally suit up in the green and gold and play for the A's on Friday? "I think anything's possible," manager Bob Melvin said. "He's swinging the bat better now, but nothing's been said to me (about) Friday." Ramirez is hitting .300 (18-for-60) with three doubles, no homers and 13 RBI through 16 games for Class AAA Sacramento. He is 9-for-23 (.391) with nine RBI in his past five games.
BY THE NUMBERS
6 -- Consecutive hits in as many plate appearances for LF Yoenis Cespedes, who'll return to the lineup Wednesday after missing four games.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"My feeling is, the days he's pitched, he's felt pretty good. Sometimes the lead-up days aren't good. We're really trying to be careful with him. It's something that over the course of his career, it's popped up around this time of year. We're trying to be proactive enough where hopefully we don't have to put him on the DL for a long period of time like he has in past years." -- Manager Bob Melvin, on RHP Brandon McCarthy, who was scratched from Wednesday's start and will have an MRI on his sore right shoulder.
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