A’s DFA Brown, call up 5 players amid 9-game losing streak in first Sacramento season
By JANIE McCAULEY Mired in a nine-game losing streak the Athletics shook up their roster Friday and called up five players including highly touted prospect Denzel Clarke Veteran Seth Brown was designated for assignment amid moves that general manager David Forst hopes will give the club more flexibility Ultimately obviously we re in a stretch right now where we re not finding means to win Forst stated in a video news conference I think we re better than we ve shown the last days Clarke a -year-old center fielder known for his standout defense speed and power was the group s fourth-round selection in the amateur draft He was set to start and make his major league debut Friday night for the A s - in the opener of a three-game home series against the Philadelphia Phillies at home in West Sacramento Clarke was batting with no home runs RBIs and seven stolen bases in games with Las Vegas His on-base percentage ranked fourth in the Pacific Coast League Also recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas were left-hander Jacob Lopez and infielder CJ Alexander while catcher Willie MacIver and infielder Logan Davidson were selected from Las Vegas During the skid the club has been outscored - is batting and has a squad ERA of while allowing home runs Outfielder JJ Bleday was optioned to Triple-A along with right-hander Carlos Duran and catcher Jhonny Pereda The A s also transferred second baseman Zack Gelof to the -day injured list Forst explained Bleday needed a reset to find a rhythm at the plate and on defense something he couldn t find playing every day at the big league level right now Manager Mark Kotsay spoke to Bleday on Friday about the move Hopefully he ll be back here very soon Forst reported Third baseman Gio Urshela was placed on the -day injured list after straining his left hamstring in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday He underwent an MRI on Friday Related Articles Oakland Ballers opening night was a hit Can they be a financial winner this year Verlander has concerning outing but Heliot Ramos comes through for SF Giants How Hayden Birdsong Jordan Hicks reacted to SF Giants rotation swap Athletics phenom Jacob Wilson debuting at Giants beautiful ballpark with Coke bottle Giants Athletics start new version of Bay Bridge Series minus Oakland touch Urshela left the event in the sixth inning with the injury as the A s suffered a - defeat Urshela went for with a bases-loaded walk in the challenge He is batting with no homers and RBIs in games this season The -year-old Brown had been the longest-tenured contestant on the gang but was struggling to get regular opportunities He spent time in the minor leagues last year for a stretch and Forst remained hopeful of him clearing waivers and playing for Las Vegas before returning at various point to the A s He was hitting with a home run and three RBIs in games
