A's put Doolittle on DL, with Jaso likely to follow

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Even with all their depth - and they have a lot of it - the A's are getting tested by a severe rash of injuries, and at a particularly poor time.

Oakland entered Sunday in a tie for the AL West lead, but on a day of poor health news, the A's fell to the Angels 9-4, failing to complete a sweep. Los Angeles moved back into first place by one game; the two clubs have the top records in baseball.

The teams meet again for four games in Anaheim beginning Thursday - but the A's will be without All-Star closer Sean Doolittle, who went on the disabled list with an intercostal strain, and catcher John Jaso, who will go on the seven-day concussion DL on Monday.

In Doolittle's absence, it's a very strong bet that Eric O'Flaherty will be the first choice to close games, which would allow the A's to keep Luke Gregerson and Ryan Cook in their set-up roles.

In addition, third baseman Josh Donaldson, also an All-Star, was sent for a precautionary MRI exam on his left knee Sunday. He hurt it in his final at-bat Saturday night. The A's top all-around player spent much of the day lobbying manager Bob Melvin to keep him in the lineup, though, and the MRI exam showed no structural issues. Donaldson has also been hobbled by a hip problem recently and he's day-to-day, potentially available Monday at Houston.

"It's several guys and key guys in a row," Melvin said. "It's just something you've got to deal with. Regardless, we feel like every time we take the field, no matter who we run out there, we're going to win."

After the game, outfielder Sam Fuld had a large ice pack on his left knee, which he banged against the wall in center trying to catch a drive by Erick Aybar in the second inning. He remained in the game, but, he said, "It's bugging me. We'll see how it is tomorrow."

The A's already have starting shortstop Jed Lowrie (finger) and backup shortstop Nick Punto (hamstring) on the DL, and they lost two members of the rotation, Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin, to Tommy John surgery before the season even started.

Sam Fuld leaps in an attempt to grab Erick Aybar's double. Sam Fuld leaps in an attempt to grab Erick Aybar's double. Photo: Tony Avelar, Associated Press Photo: Tony Avelar, Associated Press Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close A's put Doolittle on DL, with Jaso likely to follow 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

"Those are key guys who are out. A couple of other guys are banged up, too," A's starter Scott Kazmir said. "We know we need to step our game up more and I think we'll do that."

Doolittle could miss three to six weeks. There is no timetable, he said, but he suggested a cortisone shot might be an option to try to speed the process.

"Coming down the stretch, there's no time to be disappointed. We've got to figure out how to overcome this and get back on the field," Doolittle said. "That's kind of where I'm focusing all my energy."

Jaso missed the final two months of last season, and the postseason, with a concussion. He was hit by a foul tip Aug. 8 - the impact was so hard it ruined his mask, Jaso said - and he had a headache and some nausea that went away after a few days. He continued to feel fuzzy, however, with some blurred vision.

In three-plus innings Sunday, Kazmir allowed 10 hits and seven runs, matching his season highs. Included in that: a two-run homer by Josh Hamilton in the third inning. Kazmir said that his location was poor and that he didn't establish his fastball aggressively enough.

Jesse Chavez worked three innings and gave up a solo shot by Mike Trout. Oakland's runs came on a two-run homer by Alberto Callaspo in the seventh; a solo shot by Andy Parrino the same inning, the second of Parrino's career; and Eric Sogard's sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Reliever Dan Otero, optioned out just two days earlier, rejoined the team when Doolittle was placed on the DL and worked a scoreless inning.