Beltre aggravates hamstring; likely set for DL
Rangers third baseman exits vs. Astros in seventh inning
HOUSTON -- Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre is likely headed to the disabled list again after aggravating his left hamstring muscle and exiting Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Astros in the seventh inning.
The Rangers are off on Monday and won't make a decision until before Tuesday's game with the Mariners in Seattle, but Beltre said the injury felt similar to when he strained his hamstring earlier this season and had to go on the disabled list.
"Rough, because I didn't feel any setback. I didn't feel the hamstring at all," Beltre said. "I was trying to protect it the whole time, because I knew it would take me a little longer. Tried not to run hard any play. … Disappointed, obviously, but nothing I can do now."
Beltre missed 12 games from April 25 to May 8 because of the hamstring injury. This was just his fourth game back, and he did not go on a rehab assignment before being activated last Tuesday.
"Obviously, when you re-aggravate a previous injury [it's frustrating]" Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "I don't have a timeline. We'll know more when we get to Seattle. With Adrian, he has been in these situations before. He manages them well. We'll sit down and talk with him and see where he is at."
Beltre stayed with the Rangers and flew to Seattle rather than return to Arlington for further examination by Dr. Keith Meister or to get an MRI. That is still a possibility in Seattle.
"I don't think it ever happened to me like this, after I came back from an injury, to injure the same leg again," Beltre said. "I don't know if it was a re-injury or a new one. Obviously, I don't think anybody wants to get hurt, especially when you want to be out there competing. I'm not happy about it, but I'll deal with it."
Beltre said he doesn't think he rushed back too quickly from his previous injury.
"I don't think that was the case, because like I said, this might be a different one," Beltre said. "I didn't feel any discomfort after I got back. I wouldn't second-guess the timeframe that I came back in."
Beltre was injured trying to make a play at third base in the seventh. The Astros, leading 5-0, had runners on first and second with one out when Max Stassi hit a slow grounder to Beltre. He fielded the ball coming in and then turned to his right to attempt to get a forceout at third on Yuli Gurriel. He was too late arriving to the bag and seemed to move awkwardly as Gurriel got past him.
"I thought it was an easy out at third," Beltre said. "If I would have turned as quickly as I wanted to, I probably would have gotten him out, but as soon as I turned, I felt my leg. Right now, Gurriel isn't running well, and I thought it would be an easier play at third. I thought I had a chance, but it wasn't the right move."
Banister then went to the mound to remove pitcher Kevin Jepsen and Beltre came out, as well.
"Yeah, because I felt that I knew it was there," Beltre said. "I tried to kind of squat a little bit to see if I could actually make a play in the game, and I saw that I couldn't. So as soon as I saw [Banister] come in to make a pitching change, I walked out."
With Beltre down, Isiah Kiner-Falefa will likely go back to an everyday role as the starting third baseman. He had stepped into a utility role when second baseman Rougned Odor came off the disabled list on Friday. Drew Robinson, sidelined with a sore left hip, is eligible to come off the disabled list on Tuesday.
The Rangers had been using Renato Nunez at third base, but he was designated for assignment on Friday and claimed off waivers by the Orioles on Sunday. Texas has veteran Hanser Alberto at Triple-A Round Rock as a utility option.