Lowrie out of lineup for first time this season

SEATTLE -- While his teammates went for the decisive contest of a three-game set in Seattle on Sunday, Jed Lowrie was given his first day off of the season.

Consider it deserved, as the shortstop entered the day as the only Athletic to have played the field in each of the club's first 11 games, including both halves of a day-night doubleheader.

Lowrie was at shortstop for 101 of 104 possible innings entering Sunday, having been sidelined for only three innings after taking a bounced pitch to his leg in the seventh inning in Minnesota on Monday.

But he was back in the starting lineup for the next game and reached base twice, and his .458 on-base percentage ranks second on the team to Alberto Callaspo's .483 mark. It's also fifth in the American League.

Lowrie has drawn walks in six consecutive games for the first time in his career, compiling nine over that span, and his 13 walks on the year rank third in the AL. He has reached base safely in each of his past 10 games, splitting time between the two- and three-holes of the lineup in that time.

"He's been amazing," manager Bob Melvin said. "You look at his average and his on-base, and he's even hit into some tough luck this year, so he's very aware of what he needs to do in a particular at-bat, wherever he hits in the lineup. I've said that often about him.

"Usually when you move guys around in the lineup, you tell them, don't worry about where they're hitting, just do what you normally do, where he really has an understanding of what he needs to do in each spot."

Nick Punto got the start at shortstop in Lowrie's place Sunday, having faced Mariners starter Chris Young more times (3-for-6) than any other player in the A's lineup.