Bombs by Beltre, Hamilton down Tribe

Associated Press

ARLINGTON, TEXAS

Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre homered before each left the game with injuries, and the Texas Rangers beat the slumping Cleveland Indians 5-2 Wednesday night.

Hamilton didn’t take the field in the top of the eighth inning, and the Rangers announced just before the game ended that the slugger was forced out because of left knee soreness.

Beltre hit a two-run homer in the first, his 13th in his last 20 games, before exiting in the fifth with a strained left shoulder.

Ryan Dempster (11-6) won his fifth straight start and improved to 6-1 since he was acquired by the Rangers on July 31. The right-hander allowed two runs and struck out eight in seven innings.

Hamilton hit a solo shot in the third. He leads the majors with 41 home runs and 121 RBIs.

Carlos Santana and Casey Kotchman each had an RBI for Cleveland, which led the AL Central on June 23 but is 15-43 since the All-Star break.

Cleveland starter Jeanmar Gomez (5-8) allowed five runs and six hits in four innings. Gomez, who won his prior two starts against Texas this season, has not pitched more than six innings in his last nine starts.

Joe Nathan, who has converted his last 31 save opportunities, pitched the ninth for his 33rd save of the season.

Texas started the day three games ahead of Oakland in the AL West. The A’s played the Los Angeles Angels in a game late Wednesday.

Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera (sore right wrist) took batting practice Wednesday, but missed his third straight game. Cleveland RHP Roberto Hernandez (right ankle) is out of his walking boot and is expected to throw a bullpen session early next week