NewsCust, Buck equal crowded outfield
Oakland (32-44) vs. Detroit (43-34), 12:35 p.m. PT
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com
07/01/09 2:26 AM ET
OAKLAND -- The A's appeared to rush Travis Buck back to the big leagues, but they certainly haven't been in a rush to get him on the field. Recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, Buck was told to catch a 5:30 p.m. flight out of Las Vegas -- where the River Cats were playing -- to Oakland. He didn't get to town in time to start in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Tigers, but after the game A's manager Bob Geren suggested that Buck would start in the outfield on Tuesday. That didn't happen either, but it's expected to happen in Wednesday's series finale. Buck is a left-handed hitter, he'd been swinging a hot bat (.350) for Sacramento, and he hasn't made an error in his past 141 games in the big leagues. But Geren started Jack Cust in right field Tuesday against Detroit right-hander Armando Galarraga. Also a lefty swinger, Cust entered the game batting .222 and is in a 3-for-22 funk (with 13 strikeouts) over his previous six games, and he's been involved in a number of adventures in the outfield over the past week or so. Geren said he made his decision in part because the oft-injured Nomar Garciaparra, who swings from the right side, was available to serve as Oakland's designated hitter. Also a factor in the decision to delay Buck's return to the starting lineup, Geren said, was a conversation he had with Cust earlier in the day. "He said he sees the ball pretty well against [Galarraga]," Geren said. Entering Tuesday's game, Cust was 3-for-6 with a home run and a walk against Galarraga. Buck was 0-for-1, and Garciaparra had never faced him. Cust walked in the second inning and singled in the fourth to plate Oakland's first run of the game. "If we get ahead," Geren said before the game, "I can always improve our defense [with a substitution] late in the game, as I usually do." If Buck starts in right field Wednesday, Cust likely will start at DH. Pitching matchupOAK: LHP Dallas Braden (5-7, 3.26 ERA)
Braden needed 100 pitches to get through 5 1/3 against the Rockies on Friday, surrendering four runs (two earned) to take the loss. It's the first time the 25-year-old has thrown at least 100 pitches without going six innings or more since May 16, where he gave up six runs in five innings -- his worst start of the year. That May 16 start could be a bad omen, as it came against these same Tigers. DET: RHP Justin Verlander (8-3, 3.40 ERA)
Verlander's last outing had manager Jim Leyland wondering if he might be tiring, but the Tigers' schedule doesn't allow much room for adjustment until the next time around the rotation. His last outing Friday at Houston saw him throw 76 pitches over his first three innings before he settled. He ended up with three runs on seven hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings, while racking up half of his six strikeouts on called third strikes. He didn't face the A's when they visited Comerica Park in May, but his six career starts against Oakland include a 3-2 record, 2.61 ERA and 38 strikeouts over as many innings. Dribblers ...
In a tribute of sorts to fellow starter Josh Outman, who underwent season-ending left elbow surgery on Tuesday, Vin Mazzaro, Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill went with the stirrups-and-sanitary-socks look favored by Outman, who adopted the look in tribute to former A's pitcher Barry Zito. ... Tommy Everidge, who has been manning the hot corner and swinging a very hot bat of late for Triple-A Sacramento, started at first base on Monday and homered, giving him four homers and 13 RBIs in 19 games since being promoted from Double-A Midland. ... Midland first baseman Chris Carter continues to shine for the RockHounds; he went 2-for-3 with a double on Monday while pushing his Texas League-leading runs total to 65. ... The A's have started a rookie pitcher in 23 of their past 28 games and 50 of 76 overall this year. They started a rookie in 58 games last season, their most since the 1996 club (62). Tickets
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• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Athletics (Trevor Cahill, 5-6, 4.23) at Indians (David Huff, 3-3, 6.26), 4:05 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Athletics (Vin Mazzaro, 2-3, 2.95) at Indians (Carl Pavano, 6-7, 5.56), 4:05 p.m. PT
Mychael Urban is a national writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
