Coco slides in at DH as Choice takes outfield

OAKLAND -- Outfielder Coco Crisp served as the A's designated hitter in Tuesday night's contest against the Rangers after taking a foul ball off his right leg in the sixth inning of Monday's 4-2 win at O.co Coliseum.

Crisp left the game with a right shin contusion after finishing the at-bat with a strikeout and said he was "fine" in the clubhouse.

"It's a little bit sore today, which is to be expected, but he's good to go in the DH role," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

Crisp hit his career-high 17th home run in the fifth inning, marking the third straight day he'd hit one out. He has seven home runs in his last 12 games.

Chris Young filled in for Crisp in center field, and Michael Choice, who made his Major League debut Monday as the team's DH, received his first big league start in right field.

"Again, he's up here for a reason," Melvin said. "He gets some chances against some left-handed pitching. He had a good year, he had some good at-bats yesterday, so it makes sense with Coco DHing to flip him into the outfield."

Choice responded with a pair of highlight-worthy catches and his first big league hit, an infield single in the fifth inning.