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Texas star Hamilton not starting against Cleveland

Published: September 13, 2012 Comment on this article

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adrian Beltre made his case to Texas manager Ron Washington and earned a start.

Beltre was not in the original lineup Thursday night against Cleveland, a day after injuring his left shoulder.

photo - Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton grimaces after striking out in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, in Arlington, Texas. Hamilton did not take the field in the eighth inning due to left knee soreness in the 5-2 Rangers win. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton grimaces after striking out in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, in Arlington, Texas. Hamilton did not take the field in the eighth inning due to left knee soreness in the 5-2 Rangers win. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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The All-Star third baseman talked to Washington and was later listed as the designated hitter.

"He strong-armed me," Washington joked.

Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton was out of the lineup. The 2010 AL MVP left Wednesday night in the eighth inning and received an injection for his sore left knee.

Washington doesn't consider Hamilton's injury serious and he is expected to play Friday night against Seattle. Leonys Martin will start in place of Hamilton, who came in leading the majors with 41 home runs and 121 RBIs.

Beltre, who has hit 13 home runs in his last 20 games, hurt his shoulder diving for a ground ball at third base and left in the fifth inning. An MRI on Wednesday night revealed slight inflammation.

"They assumed I wasn't going to feel good based on what they saw last night," Beltre said. "But today is a different day."

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