Oakland places Foulke on 15-day DL

CHICAGO -- Right-hander Keith Foulke returned to the 15-day disabled list on Friday due to recurring inflammation in his right shoulder.

Left-hander Jerry Blevins, who pitched some with the Athletics a season ago and was a closer at Triple-A Sacramento this season, was recalled and joined the team in time to pitch Friday night.

Athletics manager Bob Geren said Foulke told him Thursday after a bullpen session that he was unable to pitch in the series opener against the White Sox. Geren also said Foulke experienced similar discomfort a couple of weeks ago, but that the problem had subsided.

"So, with the All-Star break coming up [in 10 days], let's get it right," Geren said.

Foulke was in the trainer's room and unavailable for comment before Friday's game. Foulke, who was used sparingly in the past two weeks, had a 12.00 ERA in his past four appearances. His most recent outing came Wednesday, when he took the loss against the Angels.

His move is retroactive to Thursday, and Foulke will be eligible to be activated on July 18, when the A's begin the second half of the season in New York against the Yankees.

Foulke, 35, is in his second stint with the A's. He saved 43 games for them in 2003. This season he is 0-3 with a 3.81 ERA in 26 appearances. He also went on the DL from April 11-May 9 because of neck stiffness.

The A's, who have used the disabled list 17 times, are closing on the record pace of a season ago, when they put 22 players on it. Eric Chavez, Oakland's starting third baseman, went on the DL on Wednesday.

Blevins went 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA and 10 saves in 28 appearances for Sacramento. Opponents hit .244 against him, and he had a 36-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Geren said he could use Blevins "probably anywhere at this point" during a game. He added that Blevins' velocity is up from Spring Training.

Blevins made his Major League debut with the A's last season, when he had a 9.64 ERA in six relief outings.