Lowrie sits with neck soreness, pinch-hits in ninth

TORONTO -- A's shortstop Jed Lowrie, who missed a pair of games against the Rays this week with neck soreness, was held out of the starting lineup for Saturday afternoon's affair in Toronto because of the same issue.

Manager Bob Melvin said Lowrie could've probably started and hit from the right side as the designated hitter, "but I need him in the lineup tomorrow to play on the field."

Lowrie found his way in the game after all for one at-bat, pinch-hitting for Josh Reddick in the ninth and delivering a sacrifice fly in the 5-2 loss.

Eric Sogard started in his place at shortstop, while Alberto Callaspo got the nod at second base, with Nick Punto also out of the mix with a left calf strain.