ARLINGTON, TEXAS (AP) - Texas Rangers starter Rich Harden is back on the disabled list, this time with tendinitis in his right shoulder.
The Rangers announced the move before their game Sunday against Boston. It is the second time Harden has been on the disabled list this season with Texas, and the ninth time in six seasons for the right-hander.
Harden (4-4, 5.45 ERA in 15 starts) had made only two starts since missing 42 games with a left gluteal muscle strain.
Outfielder Brandon Boggs was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Boggs provides outfield depth after Nelson Cruz came out of Saturday night’s game with a tight hamstring. Cruz said he was feeling better Sunday, but the right fielder was not in the starting lineup for the series finale against the Red Sox. Cruz will have an MRI on Monday and then fly to Tampa to rejoin the team.
“We have to make sure that this doesn’t get worse,” manager Ron Washington said. “He’s such a valuable asset.”
Cruz has already been on the disabled list twice this season, once for each hamstring. In his 77 games, Cruz has hit .320 with 16 home runs and 64 RBIs.
Harden was scheduled to pitch Tuesday night at Tampa, a start that had already been pushed back while Harden dealt with his shoulder. The Rangers didn’t announce who would replace him for that start.
The DL move is retroactive to Aug. 8, the day after he walked five batters and gave up three runs in 2 1-3 innings in a loss at Oakland.
Harden signed a free-agent deal with Texas last winter for $6.5 million with a chance to earn another $2.5 million in performance bonuses. There is an $11.5 million mutual option for 2011 with a $1 million buyout for the Rangers.
With Cruz out of the lineup, struggling Vladimir Guerrero getting a scheduled day off and Josh Hamilton serving as the designated hitter, rookie Mitch Moreland got his first start in right field after starting nine games at first base. Julio Borbon was in center and David Murphy in left.
Guerrero hit .196 (18 for 92) his last 24 games to fall from .325 to .297 overall. He had only four extra-base hits (one home run and three doubles) in his past 28 games.
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