Hamilton out 4 weeks with strained hamstring

ARLINGTON -- Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton will be sidelined for four weeks because of a strained left hamstring muscle, the team announced Wednesday night. The Rangers will place him on the disabled list before Thursday's game and make a roster move.

Hamilton, acquired from the Angels on April 27, had played in just seven games for the Rangers since being activated off the disabled list on May 25. He had been sidelined while recovering from offseason surgery on his right shoulder. Hamilton played 12 games in the Minor Leagues on medical rehabilitation assignment before being called up.

"It stinks, it's frustrating," Hamilton said. "You work tail off to get here, the guys are doing well when I got here, you're able to have fun with them, it's frustrating. There is nothing I can do except work hard to get better. I have had success before getting back early, hopefully I can do the same."

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The Rangers' choices are limited with Kyle Blanks and Ryan Rua still on the disabled list. Rua is scheduled to begin a medical rehabilitation assignment for Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday. Their 40-man roster options are Michael Choice if they want an outfielder or infielder Rougned Odor or catcher Tomas Telis if they need an extra at-bat.

"I feel bad for Josh," manager Jeff Banister said. "We had a lineup before he got here. We'll continue to use that lineup."

Hamilton said he had some groin muscle issues on his rehab assignment, but he addressed it by wrapping it tightly before each game. When he got to the big leagues, he started feeling hamstring issues and began wrapping that for games as well.

Video: BOS@TEX: Hamilton delivers pinch-hit walk-off double

Hamilton didn't wrap it in his last start on Saturday night. He didn't start on Sunday, but he was called to pinch-hit late in the game. The muscle wasn't wrapped then either when Hamilton hit his ninth-inning game-winning double.

"I promise you I thought, 'You need to wrap it,'" Hamilton said. "'No I'll be all right.' I hit the ball and as I rounded first, I felt it grab. I took four more steps and felt it grab again."

Hamilton underwent treatment on Monday and Tuesday, then had an MRI on Wednesday that revealed a Grade 2 strain and the need to go on the disabled list.