Dodgers recall Schebler, option Coulombe

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers recalled rookie outfielder Scott Schebler on Friday and optioned left-handed reliever Daniel Coulombe to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Schebler -- an Iowa native who grew up a Cardinals fan -- made his Major League debut Friday, hitting seventh and playing left field against St Louis. He wasted little time making his mark, knocking his first big league hit in his first at-bat in the second inning.

He was hitting .216 in 49 games at Oklahoma City and could be replaced within days by outfielder Yasiel Puig, who was expected to play in the second game of a Minor League rehab assignment on Friday night as he recovers from a strained left hamstring.

"We see a talent in Scott that we like," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We liked him in Spring Training. We feel like he can come up here and do some damage, so he's the right guy for us."

Schebler said his low average was the result of tinkering with his swing to accommodate the Oklahoma City ballpark, which he said is especially unfriendly to left-handed hitters.

"I kept telling myself I couldn't hit in this park and got into trouble," he said. "I went back to what I was doing before."

After getting word of his promotion from manager Damon Berryhill, Schebler said he told his mother he was going to Los Angeles and she asked, "For what?" She wasn't alone.

"It surprised me as much as her," he said. "I'm ecstatic."

Schebler gives the Dodgers an extra position player while second baseman Howie Kendrick is limited by a sprained right knee.

"With Howie, we really needed another player and we were already one over on the pitching," Mattingly said. "With Danny being able to give us the innings last night, we feel like we're comfortable with our guys in the pen and we're back to normal. We feel like a player was going to benefit us more and with their guy on the mound [Carlos Martinez], we felt like we needed a lefty."

Coulombe pitched 2 1/3 innings in Thursday's night's loss to St. Louis and has allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings across two games in three stints with the Dodgers this year.