Astros send Clemens to Triple-A Oklahoma City
Recall Oberholtzer for his third stint in the Majors this year
TORONTO -- After watching him give up six runs in the seventh inning on Friday without recording an out, the Astros optioned right-handed pitcher Paul Clemens to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday morning and called up left-hander Brett Oberholtzer.
Clemens was rocked for six runs and four hits -- including two home runs -- in one-third of an inning in Houston's 12-6 loss to the Jays, who scored eight runs in the seventh. Astros manager Bo Porter said the plan was to eventually get Clemens in the rotation in Houston, but he'll return to the rotation in Oklahoma City after going 4-4 with a 6.36 ERA in 30 games in relief with the Astros.
"We felt like he needed to get extended innings and get back to trying to establish his fastball, and that was what we conveyed to him when we talked to him last night," Porter said. "Oberholtzer comes up and gives us an option to have a long guy in the bullpen."
This will be the third stint in the Majors this year for Oberholtzer, who is 6-6 with a 4.37 ERA in 16 starts for the RedHawks. He's pitched 7 1/3 innings for the Astros year, allowing 11 hits and six runs. He was scheduled to arrive in Toronto a couple of hours prior to Saturday's game.