ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -The revolving door for the Texas Rangers pitching staff took another spin on Friday when the club sent Scott Feldman and Wes Littleton to the minors and called up Kameron Loe and Joselo Diaz from their farm system.
Diaz will be the 26th pitcher used by the Rangers this season when he makes his debut with Texas. The Rangers entered Friday night with a team ERA of 5.04, highest in the AL and second highest in the majors.
Littleton was sent back to Triple-A Oklahoma after being called up from that club on Wednesday. Feldman was optioned to Double-A Frisco. Both pitched in Thursday night’s 11-10, 11-inning defeat to the Los Angeles Angels.
Feldman, who joined the Texas rotation in May, started on Thursday night, allowing eight runs and six hits in 3 2-3 innings. Littleton followed Feldman, giving up two runs and two hits in 3 1-3 innings.
Feldman was not scheduled to pitch again until after the All-Star break, and Littleton would not have been available for the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox after throwing 55 pitches on Thursday night.
“I needed some arms,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said.
Feldman was converted from reliever to starter this season. Washington said Feldman would re-join the Rangers after the All-Star break, but Feldman could be sent to the bullpen rather than returning to the rotation.
“My innings are creeping up and they don’t want to set me back for next year,” said Feldman, who’s already pitched 87 2-3 innings at the major league level and isn’t supposed to throw more than 135 innings this season. “They needed extra pitchers and I have options.”
Loe begins his third stint with Texas this season, going 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in four relief appearances. He’s made 19 appearances for Oklahoma with a 2-4 record and 5.59 ERA.
Diaz was signed by the Rangers on June 11 and went 1-0 with four saves and a 3.95 ERA in eight relief appearances for Frisco. He was a non-roster invitee to spring training by the New York Mets and spent the first two months with Triple-A New Orleans. He went 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA in 12 games for New Orleans before he was released on June 5.
Diaz pitched for Yokohama of the Japanese League last year, going 3-4 with a 4.59 ERA in 45 relief appearances. He was also in the Texas organization in 2006, making appearances for both Frisco and Oklahoma.
He was traded by Texas to Kansas City for outfielder Matt Stairs on July 31, 2006. Diaz made his only four major league appearances with the Royals in September of 2006, and his last big league outing came on Sept. 23, 2006 against Detroit.
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