A's demote Menechino, Pena, Tam

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The slumping Oakland Athletics, faced with 14 losses in 18 games, shook up their roster Tuesday in hopes of turning around the season.

The A's optioned rookie first baseman Carlos Pena, second baseman Frank Menechino and right-handed reliever Jeff Tam to Class AAA Sacramento.

To replace them, Oakland recalled infielder Esteban German and outfielder Adam Piatt from Sacramento and purchased the contract of infielder Larry Sutton.

"This is probably a little wakeup call for the whole team," A's manager Art Howe said.

The A's, who won 102 games last season and went to the playoffs for the second straight year, tinkered with their lineup after dropping three straight to the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend.

Going into Tuesday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland had dropped to five games under .500 for a third-place tie in the AL West with the Texas Rangers.

Orioles 6, Athletics 4 (14 inn.) OAKLAND, Calif. -- Chris Singleton's single drove in the go-ahead run in the 14th inning and the Baltimore Orioles went on to a 6-4 victory over the slumping Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night. Mike Bordick walked to lead off the 14th, then advanced to second on Jerry Hairston's sacrifice bunt. Singleton singled up the middle off Mike Venafro (1-1) for a 5-4 lead. Singleton stole second and third before Gary Matthews Jr. added an RBI single. Travis Driskill (1-0) pitched two innings for his first major league victory. Jorge Julio pitched the bottom of the 14th for his ninth save. The Athletics have lost four straight and 15 of their last 19. • Click here for full story.

The A's have been hit by a number of key injuries. Outfielder Jermaine Dye opened the season on the disabled list because of a broken leg from last year's playoff series against the New York Yankees.

Ace Mark Mulder, who won 21 games last season, had a stint on the DL with left forearm strain, and outfielder David Justice is currently on the DL with a right groin strain.

At the plate, Justice was expected to make up for the absence of Jason Giambi, the A's All-Star first baseman who bolted for the Yankees as a free agent in the offseason.

The A's also had big hopes for Pena, who took over this season in Giambi's place at first. He started well, with seven home runs to tie him for lead among AL rookies.

But over his last 15 games, Pena was batting .100 with zero RBIs.

"We just feel, just because we're losing we can't afford to carry him and we want him to get going back there (Sacramento)," Howe said.

Piatt has appeared in 96 games with the A's over the past two seasons, batting .266 with five homers and 29 RBIs. He was batting .426 with an 11-game hitting streak for the River Cats before being called up.

Sutton, who played in 56 games for the St. Louis Cardinals the past two seasons, was batting .310 with four home runs and 26 RBIs in 41 games with the River Cats.

German, the River Cats' second baseman, was batting .277 with 15 RBIs in 38 games. He made his major league debut at second against the Orioles on Tuesday night.

"He's a leadoff hitter with speed," Howe said. "He's got all the tools."

Opponents were batting .384 against Tam, who had a 6.52 ERA in 19 relief appearances this season. Menechino was batting .210 in 34 games.

"Basically with the three guys, the performance wasn't there," Howe said about the demotions. "Every young player has to get an opportunity."

 

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