A’s Recall RHP Scribner and Select RHP Griffin from Triple-A Sacramento

The Oakland A’s recalled right-handed pitcher Evan Scribner and selected right-handed pitcher A.J. Griffin from Triple-A Sacramento, the club announced today.  The A’s also placed right-handed pitcher Brandon McCarthy on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20 with a strained right shoulder and optioned infielder Eric Sogard to Sacramento.  To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Griffin, the A’s designated Danny Farquhar for assignment.

Griffin combined for a 6-3 record and a 2.66 ERA in 15 games, all starts, with Double-A Midland and Triple-A Sacramento and is scheduled to make his Major League debut today against the Giants.  He has walked just 14 batters in 94.2 innings, an average of 1.33 per nine innings, and has 84 strikeouts for a strikeout to walk ratio of 6.0.  The 24-year-old right-hander went 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA over his final five minor league starts.  Griffin was originally drafted by the A’s in the 13^th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft and is the first A’s draft pick from the last four years to reach the majors.

Scribner joins the A’s for the second time this year as he was previously with Oakland from June 6 to 15.  He made his A’s debut with 1.1 scoreless innings June 10 at Arizona and then pitched 3.0 shutout innings for his first Major League save in the A’s 10-2 win over San Diego June 15.  The 26-year-old right-hander appeared in three games with Sacramento following his option and had two saves while tossing 3.0 scoreless innings.  He is 3-0 with eight saves and a 3.03 ERA in 26 relief appearances overall with Sacramento.  Scribner has allowed a .203 opponents batting average, including .147 against right-handed hitters.

McCarthy is on the disabled list for the second time this year as he was also out from May 18 to June 1 with the same injury.  He has pitched just once since June 8 and that was last Tuesday against Los Angeles when he tossed 7.0 shutout innings for the win.  McCarthy currently has a career-high six-game winning streak and is 6-3 with a 2.54 ERA in 12 starts overall.  He ranks fourth in the American League in ERA.  This is McCarthy’s eight career stint on the DL.  he is eligible to be reinstated July 5.

Sogard was recalled from Sacramento June 16 for his second stint with the A’s this year but appeared in just one game, going 1 for 3 in a start at third base on Wednesday against Los Angeles.  He is batting .145 with two home runs and six RBI in 22 games overall.