Major League Baseball

Rays recall Lueke to help bullpen

Published Aug. 1, 2012 2:31 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Tampa Bay Rays, still feeling the effects from Monday's 15-inning, 5-hour loss to the Oakland Athletics, have called up right-handed reliever Josh Lueke.

Lueke was with the Rays coming out of spring training and has an 18.90 ERA in three games with the big league club. The 6-foot-5-inch, 235-pounder was 1-3 with a 4.72 ERA for Triple-A Durham before getting recalled to the majors.

The Rays needed some help in their bullpen after manager Joe Maddon used seven relievers in the loss to the A's. Maddon was so desperate that he had designated hitter Jeff Keppinger warming up in the 15th inning of the game, which ended at 12:17 a.m. local time.

To make room for Lueke, Tampa Bay optioned infielder Brooks Conrad to Durham.