Sports
Rangers begin series in Seattle without two stars
SEATTLE -- Another day of doctor visits and medical exams left the Texas Rangers without any definitive answers about the health of MVP candidates Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre.
Neither played Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against Seattle, and Hamilton will not play this weekend after traveling to Texas to be seen by team doctors.
Beltre is expected back in the lineup tonight after another round of tests in the Los Angeles area Friday morning. He was scheduled to arrive here after a late-night flight.
Club officials, meanwhile, were awaiting the test results before announcing what has sacked the No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in their high-scoring offense.
The team, which arrived at Safeco Field with a four-game lead in the American League West, did what it always does when down a player or two, even when the two missing have combined for 76 homers and 218 RBIs this season.
"As long as we've got nine guys that we can put out there on the field, we're going to go out there together and try to win a ballgame together," manager Ron Washington said.
"We're not going to react to something we have no control over. We have no control that Beltre is not here and Hamilton is not here."
Hamilton showed no improvement in his condition after visiting team doctor David Hunter in Arlington, so the Rangers told him to stay home until the team returns Monday for its final homestand of the season.
He continues to be plagued by an inability to focus his eyes well enough to play and also is having equilibrium problems, both believed to be related to a sinus infection.
Hamilton attempted to go through his normal pregame workout Thursday, and appeared fine while stretching with his teammates. But he struggled with shagging fly balls and fielding grounders, at one point nearly falling to the ground while turning to throw the ball back to the infield.
He also misjudged a fly ball and was nearly struck in the head, and the Rangers pulled him off the field. Though he was seen in the dugout with a bat in his hands, he was not available to pinch hit.
"He started going through his routine that he goes through every day, and he was out of sorts," Washington said. "We're just trying to make sure we're trying to do everything we can do to ease his mind. Once he has peace of mind with what's going on, things are going to be fine with Josh."
Beltre told Rangers officials the abdominal discomfort that has hampered him since Sunday had improved some Friday, but the tests he underwent prevented him from playing against the Mariners.
He was allowed to take an evening flight and was expected to meet the team at their hotel after the game.
Beltre played through his intestinal issues Thursday night and delivered the go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the Rangers to a 3-1 victory over Anaheim.
"It was good to be in there," Beltre said after the homer. "I didn't feel 100 percent, but I felt good enough to help my team win."
Jeff Wilson, 817-390-7760
Twitter: @JeffWilson_FWST
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