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Friday, June 2
Strained hamstring shelves Cleveland slugger


ST. LOUIS -- All-Star right fielder Manny Ramirez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday by the Cleveland Indians, who can't seem to shake a season-long injury bug.

Manny Ramirez
Ramirez

Ramirez, batting .322 with 47 RBI, injured his leg while running out a grounder during Monday's game against the Anaheim Angels.

He was unavailable for the past two games while the team decided whether to put him on the DL or keep him on the roster while he recuperates.

Ramirez, who did not accompany the team to St. Louis for a three-game interleague series that began Friday night, is the eighth Indians player to go on the DL. He's the seventh to be disabled since May 18.

"You just try to get by," teammate Jim Thome said. "Manny is such a big part of what we've done, we'll just try to come together and fill in until he gets back."

The injuries haven't been disastrous, so far. The Indians were 27-22 and 1½ games behind AL Central-leading Chicago.

"We're playing good for what we've got," Thome said.

This is Ramirez's first trip to the DL in his seven-year career. The 28-year-old slugger, who drove in 165 runs last season, is in the final year of his contract with the Indians and is eligible to become a free agent after the World Series.

Thome replaced Ramirez in the cleanup slot the last two games and was back there again Friday night.

"We just moved them up," manager Charlie Manuel said. "That's about all we can do."

The Indians recalled right-hander Jamie Brewington from Triple-A Buffalo where he was 1-0 with a 3.04 ERA. He last appeared in the majors in 1995 with San Francisco.

Manuel said Brewington would be used in middle relief.

"He's about a two-inning guy for us," Manual said. "In Buffalo, that's what he was."

The Indians also transferred left-hander Ricardo Rincon from the 15- to the 60-day DL. Rincon has bone spurs in his elbow and may need season-ending surgery.

Rincon still felt pain in his elbow while pitching a simulated game Wednesday, and told Manuel he couldn't pitch. Manuel said Rincon would visit Dr. James Andrews.

"I don't know if he's going to operate or not," Manuel said. "I thought that was for sure, but it hasn't been scheduled."

Rincon was the Indians' most effective setup man before hurting his elbow. Cleveland is also without reliever Paul Shuey, who had surgery on his hip this week and is expected to be out for six to eight weeks.
 


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