BALTIMORE (AP) -- Sammy Sosa was dropped to sixth in the Baltimore Orioles' batting order Tuesday, a move designed to take some pressure off the slumping slugger.

Sosa started the day in a 3-for-31 funk that dropped his batting average to .239. He had gone nine straight games without a home run and struck out at least once in 11 consecutive games before Sunday.

Sosa had batted fourth or fifth in the lineup since joining the Orioles in an offseason trade with the Chicago Cubs. Manager Lee Mazzilli called the outfielder into his office Tuesday afternoon, hours before Baltimore faced the New York Yankees, to tell him of the move.

"I'd rather have it come from me than him seeing it or reading it first," Mazzilli said.

Sosa groused when dropped in the order last season by Cubs manager Dusty Baker, but this time he accepted the move without any animosity, in part because Mazzilli made a point of talking to him before the lineup was posted.

"He was really nice about it. I really respect that," Sosa said. "It's not the first time I've hit sixth. I don't have a problem with that."

Giants' Tomko gets shelled, then demoted

PHOENIX (AP) -- Two days after lasting just 2 2-3 innings in the biggest shutout loss in San Francisco history, Brett Tomko was demoted to the Giants' bullpen Tuesday.

"When teams are losing, things happen," manager Felipe Alou said. "It happens to the manager, to the coaches, to the players, to anybody. That kind of stuff doesn't happen when teams are winning."

Pitching coach Dave Righetti broke the news to Tomko (5-10), who has lost three straight starts and hasn't won since beating the Mets in New York on June 5.

Tomko started Sunday's 16-0 defeat at Oakland, and allowed six runs and 10 hits in his shortest outing of the season.

"He took it like a man," said Righetti, who acknowledged the move was a demotion but denied it was punishment.

Tomko was the Giants' top starter down the stretch last season, posting a 5-1 record and 1.43 ERA in his last eight starts. He missed his third straight 200-inning season because of a stretch on the disabled list in June.

This season, he has worked 100 2-3 innings, pitching the only two complete games among the rotation, with a 5.19 ERA.

Angels recall Quinlan, cut Pride

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Los Angeles Angels recalled infielder Robb Quinlan on Tuesday and designated outfielder Curtis Pride for assignment.

Manager Mike Scioscia said the move was necessary because of the team's lack of infield depth with Orlando Cabrera (right elbow) and Dallas McPherson (groin tightness) unavailable to play in Texas.

Pride can refuse the assignment. Scioscia said he has already cleared waivers.

Quinlan batted .172 in 28 games for the Angels before being optioned June 18 to Triple-A Salt Lake, where he hit .238 with a homer in five games.

Pride started the season at Salt Lake and hit .305 with six homers and 35 RBIs in 43 games before his contract was purchased by the Angels on May 21. He played in just five games, went 1-for-6, and spent 15 days on the disabled list with a strained right wrist.

Olivo recalled from minors by A's

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Seattle Mariners recalled catcher Miguel Olivo from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday and optioned catcher Rene Rivera to Double-A San Antonio.

Olivo was available for Tuesday night's game at Oakland and will be the backup to starter Pat Borders. Manager Mike Hargrove expects the 26-year-old Olivo, the team's opening day catcher, to play once or twice every four or five days.

Olivo worked before the game with minor league catching coordinator Roger Hansen, who will remain with the team through this weekend's series against Texas at Safeco Field. In 23 games at Tacoma, Olivo batted .244 with three home runs, 21 RBIs and 13 runs. He also had eight stolen bases.

Seattle wants Rivera to focus on his defense and the team believes it will benefit him to play every day in the minors.

Rivera batted .364 with one homer and five RBIs in his second stint with the Mariners this season.

"The reason we sent Rene out was to work on his defensive abilities and separate his hitting from his catching," Hargrove said. "The more his hitting woes went on, it affected him behind the plate. His focus would wander. ... He'd done everything we asked and more. He did enough to show us he can be a No. 1 guy. To achieve that as quickly as possible, he needs to play every day.

Rangers activate Benoit, option Laird

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Rangers activated right-hander Joaquin Benoit from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and optioned catcher Gerald Laird to Triple-A Oklahoma.

Benoit had been on the disabled list since June 12 with right elbow tendinitis. He allowed just one run in 14 1-3 innings in six games before going on the DL for the second time this season.

Laird had been recalled Monday, and started in place of Rod Barajas (strained back muscle), who was back in the lineup Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Laird was 0-for-4 and had an error on a catcher's interference call against the Angels on Monday night.

Cubs recall Cedeno, send down Wilson

CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago Cubs recalled infielder Ronny Cedeno from the Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and sent down infielder Enrique Wilson.

Cedeno batted .371 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 52 games for Iowa. He was on Chicago's roster from April 21-May 17. He played in 10 games, batting .313 with one homer and two RBIs.

Cedeno figures to back up Neifi Perez at shortstop.

Wilson batted .136 in 15 games for Chicago. He signed with the Cubs as a free agent on May 17 after beginning the season in the Baltimore Orioles' organization.

Marlins recall Resop, option Messenger

MIAMI (AP) -- The Florida Marlins recalled right-hander Chris Resop from Double-A Carolina on Tuesday and optioned right-hander Randy Messenger to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Resop, who arrived in Miami about three hours before gametime Tuesday, was 1-0 with 18 saves and a 2.60 ERA in 27 appearances for Carolina this season. A native of Naples, Fla., about 90 miles from the Marlins' home park, Resop was selected by Florida in the fourth round of the 2001 draft.

Devil Rays activate Miller, option Corcoran

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays activated left-handed reliever Trever Miller from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Tim Corcoran to Triple-A Durham before Tuesday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Miller was 0-0 with a 4.24 ERA in 29 appearances before going on the DL with a right hamstring strain. Corcoran appeared in two games out of the bullpen, going 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA during Miller's absence.