Rangers lose A.J. Griffin to shoulder stiffness in third inning

Texas Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin was forced to leave Saturday’s game against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning because of shoulder stiffness.

Griffin, who entered with a 3-0 record and a 2.32 ERA, worked a scoreless first inning, allowed a two-out run in the second and left after Nick Castellanos lined a two-out two-run single to center in the third.

Griffin got the first two outs of the third before Rougned Odor couldn’t handled a Miguel Cabrera roller that was scored an infield hit. Griffin followed with walks to Victor Martinez and B.J. Upton.

After Castellanos gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead, Griffin threw a ball to Jarrod Saltalamacchia on his 53rd pitch before catcher Bryan Holaday went to the mound and athletic trainer Kevin Harmon was summoned from the dugout.

Griffin quickly exited the game in his seventh start of the season and seventh since missing 2014 after Tommy John surgery and 2015 because of shoulder stiffness while rehabbing.

Anthony Ranaudo, recalled Friday from Triple A Round Rock, replaced Griffin. Ranaudo retired Saltalamacchia to end the third but allowed a two-run homer to Ian Kinsler in the fourth.

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 1:43 PM with the headline "Rangers lose A.J. Griffin to shoulder stiffness in third inning."