Rays place Bartlett on DL

Jul 3, 2008 - 8:48 PM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Rays placed shortstop Jason Bartlett on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a right knee sprain.

Bartlett is hitting .256 with 24 runs scored and 18 steals in his first year with the Rays. He went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's 7-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

The Rays also recalled infielder Ben Zobrist and purchased the contract of shortstop Reid Brignac from Class AAA Durham. Righthander Mitch Talbot was optioned to Durham.

Zobrist has played in nine games for Tampa Bay this season, batting .292 (7-for-24) with two homers and five runs scored.

Brignac, 22, is being called up to the majors for the first time. He was batting .265 in 78 games for Durham with seven homers and 38 RBI.

Talbot, 24, was recalled from Durham on Wednesday for the first time of his career but did not appear in a major league game.