Ted Lilly, who has made just two starts for the Oakland Athletics since being acquired in a trade from the New York Yankees, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday because of an inflamed left shoulder.       The move is retroactive to July 21. Lilly underwent an MRI Wednesday. The results were not immediately available.

"The preliminary reports from the medical people are that he just needs strengthening and conditioning in that shoulder, but we'll know more after the MRI is diagnosed," manager Art Howe said.       Lilly, 26, pitched six scoreless innings on July 15 in his Athletics debut, a 4-0 victory at Tampa Bay. Last Saturday, he gave up four runs over five innings with no decision in Oakland's 6-5 victory over Texas. His combined record this season is 4-6, with a 3.39 ERA.       "He had a little difficuly in the start before the last one at Tampa Bay," Howe said. "He said he didn't really experience any problem when he was pitching in his last start at home, but the next day is when he felt it.       "He went to play catch yesterday and shut it down right away, so we want to err on the side of safety, really. This is the time to get that thing rehabbed. He needs the trainers to start working on his shoulder and get it going in the right direction."