Vogt sits vs. Rangers after cortisone shot

ARLINGTON -- A's catcher Stephen Vogt was out of the lineup for Tuesday night's series-opening 8-6 win over the Rangers, after receiving a cortisone shot in his left elbow Sunday.

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Vogt, who had been playing with tennis elbow for nearly a month, is expected is expected to return Wednesday and play first base, with Josh Phegley catching. Filling in for Vogt in the opener, Phegley homered and doubled to drive in three.

Video: OAK@TEX: Phegley lifts a solo shot to left-center

"Seemed like a good time with [Monday's] off-day to take care of it," Vogt said. "Hitting, obviously I'd like to say it wasn't affecting me. Catching, it was, especially on the low pitch. I felt like it was just really painful."

Vogt had just three hits through the first two weeks of June but has since returned to his hot-hitting ways, having gone 11-for-25 with three doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs over his last seven games.

"You know what? He's a tough guy, and he's been dealing with it," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "I think once he gets into the batter's box he doesn't think much about it, but there are some days that it's worse than others, some swings that are worse than others that he feels it on. It just got to a point where we had to do something about it."

Vogt has not engaged in any baseball activity since undergoing the shot Sunday but said Tuesday his elbow already felt better.

• Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte, who has been on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder since June 11, could begin playing catch again by the end of the week, Melvin said.