A’s Zach Neal gets first big-league call-up
A’s Zach Neal gets first big-league call-up
[...] when Nashville pitching coach Rick Rodriguez asked him how he’d feel about working out of the bullpen, Neal, a starter for the Sounds, said, “Yeah, that’s fine.”
Neal’s parents, Kim and Quin, flew in from Dallas along with Neal’s fiancee, Kianna, and Neal’s two best friends.
Manager Bob Melvin said that Neal was up to provide long relief, considering how few innings the A’s starters have been working recently.
“It’s always cool to see a guy’s reaction when he walks into a big-league clubhouse the first time,” Melvin said.
[...] what was Neal’s reaction? “A little wide-eyed,” Melvin said.
The A’s placed second baseman Jed Lowrie on the disabled list with what was described as a right shin contusion; Melvin said Lowrie got his foot and shin pretty hard with a foul ball Monday night.
Left-hander Daniel Coulombe, who gave up three runs in two innings Tuesday, was optioned back to Triple-A Nashville, as the A’s also recalled left-hander Eric Surkamp to start Wednesday night’s game.
All-Star Sonny Gray, who has allowed a career-high seven runs in each of his past two outings, threw a bullpen session Wednesday and said it went really well.
Gray, who is physically sound, said he believes he just needs to do a better job of keeping the ball down in the zone. …
With the A’s off Thursday, third baseman Danny Valencia remained out of the lineup with hamstring tightness in order to get him two more days of rest as a precaution.
Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
The throw home from Jackie Bradley Jr. beat Billy Butler to the plate by a dozen feet Tuesday, but Butler said he nearly made it in with a good slide.
“My cleat came down on his arm, so he tagged me,” Butler said.
If I don’t hit his arm and hit the plate, I’m safe. ...