Parker late scratch with illness, may start Monday

ARLINGTON - Just minutes after removing Yoenis Cespedes from their lineup because of shoulder soreness, the A's announced they'd also be without scheduled starter Jarrod Parker for Sunday's series finale in Texas.

Parker was scratched due to illness and replaced by lefty Tommy Milone, who entered the day 0-4 with a 5.67 ERA in five career starts against the Rangers. Milone notched his first career win against Texas, allowing just one run on five hits in a 5-1 victory.

As for Parker, the right-hander could start as soon as Monday at home against the Angels, according to manager Bob Melvin, who would then likely bump scheduled starter Sonny Gray to Tuesday. Parker was feeling better after Sunday's game, but couldn't commit to a Monday start.

"If I feel better," Parker said, "we'll assess it and make a decision."

Parker, undefeated in his last 19 starts, vomited in the morning and knew he likely couldn't give the A's what they needed in a pivotal game.

"To pitch here in a day game, dehydrated, if I go one inning, it kind of handcuffs us, so I think it was a good decision," he said. "Huge pickup by Tommy to step in and do a great job on short notice. He did an unbelievable job of stepping up."

"He did a great job for us," said Jed Lowrie. "That's quite a luxury to have as a team, to have a guy that's proven he can do it in the past and to be able to throw him out there in a big game like this against a big divisional rival and pitch the way he did."