Gomez recovering, hopes to return soon

ARLINGTON -- Rangers outfielder Carlos Gómez lifted up his shirt Wednesday afternoon and showed why he has been out of the lineup for the past three days. It isn't pretty.
Gomez has been dealing with a sizable and painful cyst on the back of his right shoulder. It has been bothering him since it got infected on Sunday while playing on a hot and humid afternoon.
"It came in like a little pimple and got big," Gomez said. "I had a fever and my body was shaking. That night I almost went to the emergency room. Yesterday was a little better after taking antibiotics. Today I'm better, but I don't want to high-five anybody."
Wednesday marked the third game Gomez has not started. The Rangers went with Delino DeShields in center although Gomez said he would be available late in the game, if needed.
"Tomorrow I am hoping to be better," Gomez said. "I didn't think it could be this bad."
Balk instead of steal
Umpire crew chief Ted Barrett explained why Rougned Odor scored on a balk instead of a steal of home in the seventh inning of the Rangers' 10-4 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday night.
Odor tried to steal home against Tigers left-hander Daniel Stumpf and easily would have been safe. But Stumpf, who didn't see Odor until it was too late, committed a balk, which ended up being the official ruling.

"He didn't come set," Barrett said. "He still has to come set unless he steps off, then he becomes a fielder. But in this situation, he still has the duties of coming set. Since it was a balk, then it became a no-pitch. That's why the count remained the same."
It would have been the first steal of home for Odor in his career and the first for the Rangers this season.
Rangers beat
• DeShields turned 25 on Wednesday. Assistant equipment manager David Bales, who is in his 36th season in professional baseball, also celebrated his birthday.
• The Rangers will face former teammate Derek Holland on Saturday when he starts for the White Sox. It will be Holland's first start in Arlington since he pitched for the Rangers last season. The Rangers will be facing right-handers Reynaldo López on Thursday, James Shields on Friday, Holland on Saturday and Miguel González on Sunday.
• The Rangers open a big four-game series with the Angels on Monday in Anaheim. Left-hander Tyler Skaggs is scheduled to start Monday, followed by right-hander Ricky Nolasco, left-hander Andrew Heaney and right-hander J.C. Ramirez.