A’s Get Becker From Brewers

The Oakland Athletics, looking for help since Tony Phillips broke his leg and was lost for the season, obtained outfielder Rich Becker from the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday for a player to be determined.

Becker batted leadoff in Oakland’s 7-4 loss to Boston Wednesday night and went one for three.

Becker hit .252 with five home runs and 16 runs batted in in 89 games for the Brewers. He had a .395 on-base percentage, and was safe on all five of his stolen-base attempts.

*

Boston right-hander Bret Saberhagen will miss at least one start because of a weak shoulder, and current closer Tim Wakefield will move back into the rotation Sunday at Texas. Saberhagen was chased after two innings--his shortest outing in four years--in Tuesday’s 12-1 loss to Oakland. . . . The Cleveland Indians put Mark Langston on the 15-day disabled list after he pulled a leg muscle Tuesday night. . . . Struggling right-hander Kelvim Escobar was sent to the bullpen by the Toronto Blue Jays and replaced in the rotation by Roy Halladay.