Indians slammed by Texas

Associated Press

ARLINGTON, TEXAS

The Cleveland Indians head into the final 16 games of the season out of the playoff race and pointing toward next season.

At least they expect to have outfielder Shin-Soo Choo back in the lineup for tonight’s series finale against the Texas Rangers.

The Indians lost for the seventh time in nine games, 9-1 by the Rangers on Wednesday night.

Choo has been on the 15-day DL since Sept. 1 with a left oblique strain. He’s been limited by injuries to 84 games after a 22-homer, 90-RBI season in 2010.

Choo, Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore have all missed long stretches this season because of injuries, hampering the Indians’ efforts to catch Detroit in the AL Central.

“It’s been a challenge not having him and Grady and Travis,” manager Manny Acta said. “It’s a credit to our pitching staff because they kept us afloat most of the season. But we’ll continue to have in the back of our head what would have happened.”

The pitching hasn’t been there for the Indians the last two nights as Texas outscored Cleveland, 19-5. Texas had an eight-run fourth on Wednesday night capped by Josh Hamilton’s third career grand slam.

Rangers starter Derek Holland (14-5) took care of the rest with seven effective innings.

“When you pitch in the mid-90s and pitch inside like he does, you have a chance to succeed,” Acta said.

Indians rookie starter David Huff (2-5) allowed eight runs — although only three were earned due to a fielding error in the fourth by third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall on Ian Kinsler’s two-out grounder — and seven hits in four innings.

The Rangers are 10-1 against the Indians over the last two seasons.

“That’s what a team that was in the World Series last year looks like, a team that will probably win their division,” Acta said. “We have some catching up to do.”

Chisenhall’s homer in the fifth inning accounted for the Indians’ only run.