The Mariners Thursday called up 29-year-old outfielder Cole Gillespie from AAA Tacoma and sent INF/OF Nick Franklin and RHP Erasmo Ramirez back to the minor leagues, Franklin to Tacoma and Ramirez to A High Desert. Gillespie will be available for the Texas series, which starts Friday night at Safeco Field.

Gillespie, 29, was batting .362 (21×58) with five doubles, one triple, five home runs and 14 RBIs in 16 games with the Rainiers (1.197 OPS). The Portland native started nine games in left field, six in right field and one game at DH. He recorded at least one hit in 11 of his 16 starts, including eight multi-hit games.

Gillespie has appeared in 78 career major league games with the Diamondbacks (2010-2011), Giants (2013) and Cubs (2013). He was originally selected by the Brewers in the third round of the 2006 June draft out of Oregon State University. He was the 2006 Pac-10 Player of the Year, leading the Beavers to the College World Series title.

Franklin, 23, appeared in seven games for the Mariners after being recalled from Tacoma April 16. He went 2-for-16 (.125) with a triple. He made four starts at four positions (2B, 3B, DH, RF). In 11 games with Tacoma he is batting .395 (17×43) with 3 doubles, 4 home runs and 13 RBI.

Ramirez, 23, is 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA (18 ER, 24.0 IP) in five starts this season. After earning the win in the Mariners second game against the Los Angeles Angels, Ramirez is 0-3 with a 8.47 ERA (16 ER, 17.0 IP) over his last four starts.

In his most recent start Tuesday, Ramirez gave up a pair of early home runs and took a 5-2 loss that extended Seattle’s losing streak to eight games.