Huston Street was sent down to the DL today.  Does a struggling Duke now become our closer?

A’s Place Huston Street on DL; Select Connor Robertson From Sacramento

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland A’s today placed right-handed pitcher Huston Street on the 15-day Disabled List retroactive to May 13 with an irritation in his right ulnar nerve.  To take his spot on the roster the A’s have selected right-handed pitcher Connor Robertson from Triple-A Sacramento.

Street was 2-1 with a 2.50 ERA in 18 relief appearances and has recorded all nine of the A’s saves this year.  He had allowed just two runs over his last 13 outings for a 1.35 ERA and has not allowed a run in 15 of his 18 outings this year.  This is Street’s second career stint on the DL as he was also on the DL last year from August 19 to September 8.

Robertson was 4-0 with two saves and a 1.93 ERA in 15 relief appearances with Sacramento.  He held the opposition to a .194 (13 for 67) batting average, which included a .160 (4 for 25) mark against left-handed hitters and .214 (9 for 42) against right-handers.  Robertson allowed four earned runs in his first two outings, but did not allow an earned run over his final 13 outings (16.2 ip).  The 25-year old right-hander was originally drafted by the A’s in the 31st round of the 2004 First Year Player Draft and is the fifth A’s selection from that draft to reach the majors along with Danny Putnam, Huston Street, Dallas Braden and Jason Windsor.

The A’s have now used the Disabled List nine times this year.  Street is one of seven players currently on the DL along with Chris Denorfia, Rich Harden, Bobby Kielty, Mark Kotsay, Esteban Loaiza and Mike Piazza.  This marks the second time this year the A’s have had seven players on the DL at one time as they also had seven on the DL from May 4 to 10.