Hamstring limits Crisp to pinch-hit appearance

ANAHEIM -- Coco Crisp was not in the A's lineup Tuesday night for the second game in a row, but manager Bob Melvin said the center fielder's hamstring injury is improving.

"Coco's better, and he was better yesterday," Melvin said prior to the game against the Angels. "We'll see how BP goes today, and that will determine if he can play tomorrow."

Crisp pinch-hit in the A's 10-9, 11-inning win, flying out to center field in the 10th.

Melvin stressed that it's just the hamstring that concerns the A's now, not the wrist Crisp injured last week. With a day off Thursday, it's also feasible Oakland would give Crisp two more days and wait until Friday to bring him back as a starter.

Partially as a result of Crisp not being available, an A's center fielder did not lead off Tuesday for the first time this season.

Catcher John Jaso got the call against Angels right-hander Garrett Richards, with center fielder Craig Gentry, Monday's No. 1 hitter, moving to eighth.

"Somebody's got to hit there, and he's an easy fit," Melvin said of Jaso, citing his career on-base percentage (.365) plus his hot hitting in Anaheim (.424, with six homers, including Monday's ninth-inning game-decider).