Vogt back in action as designated hitter

HOUSTON -- All-Star catcher Stephen Vogt returned to the A's lineup in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Astros, going 0-for-2 with a walk as the designated hitter.

Vogt hadn't played since Sept. 6 in Oakland, when he was hit in the groin by a foul ball. He went through a full complement of pregame work on Friday and Saturday before being inserted back into the lineup.

"Obviously, with the issues he's had, we'll have him DH first and see where we go from there," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "He's an All-Star and a big part of our offense. For a while here we've been missing Billy [Burns] and him, and it's nice to get them both back."

Burns, who had a nagging hamstring injury, sat out the first seven games of the road trip before pinch-hitting on Friday and starting in center field on Saturday and Sunday.

Melvin said he was unsure when Vogt would get back behind the plate. The A's called up Bryan Anderson on Sunday as an emergency third catcher after Josh Phegley sustained a concussion when he was hit on the back of the head with a bat while standing too close to he cage during batting practice on Saturday.

Carson Blair handled the catching duties throughout the Astros series.

"Just trying to cliche it and take it one day at a time and see how it feels," Vogt said. "The injury feels better. It feels as close to 100 percent as it has."