"Jack Cust didn't get much sleep, if any, Friday night, after getting a call after midnight in Oklahoma City that he'd be joining the A's.

He was on the bus to the airport at 6 a.m., and in Anaheim in plenty of time, raring to go after nearly six weeks with Triple-A Sacramento.

"It's good to be back," said Cust, who was stunned and furious when he was designated for assignment before the season began.

Cust, who led Oakland in homers each of the past three years, will be in the lineup regularly, mostly in the outfield, according to manager Bob Geren.

Cust went 0-for-3 with a walk and he also made an error in the seventh, dropping a flyball by Brandon Wood that was right to him.

On the move: Geren said that second baseman Mark Ellis (hamstring tendinitis) will start his rehab assignment Monday with Class A Stockton. Ellis said by phone that he's flying today, but he doesn't anticipate playing in a game with the Ports until Tuesday."