Hamilton sits with tightness in left hamstring

ARLINGTON -- Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was out of the lineup for Tuesday night's series opener against the White Sox because of tightness in his left hamstring.

Hamilton has been nursing the hamstring ever since being called up to the big leagues on May 25. He was given the day off on Sunday but pinch-hit in the ninth inning. Hamilton delivered a game-winning two-run double with two outs and said he tweaked the muscle rounding first base on his way to second. He only had to stop at first because the winning run was on the way home.

"I know it," Hamilton said. "It's better for your teammates to run out all the way onto the field to mob you rather than just first base."

Hamilton underwent treatment all day on Monday but was still sore on Tuesday.

"I don't think it is a huge deal," Hamilton said. "I don't want to jump out there and then be out for a long time."

Hamilton, acquired from the Angels on April 27, missed all of Spring Training and the first month of the season while recovering from right shoulder surgery. He played in just 12 games in the Minor Leagues before being called up to the Rangers, so there is still a concern about his overall conditioning.

"We talked about it when we first started the process," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "The lower half [of the body], that's my biggest concern with position players. Until you get into the grind of nine innings, it's hard to condition yourself for that."

Other injury updates 

• Ryan Rua, who has been on the disabled list because of a fracture in his right heel, is scheduled to start a medical rehabilitation assignment on Wednesday at Triple-A Round Rock. Rua will play multiple positions, including first, third and left field. He was the Rangers' Opening Day left fielder but was drafted as a shortstop and came up through the farm system as an infielder.

• Outfielder/first baseman Kyle Blanks is doing full baseball activities but is still not fully recovered from a procedure to remove a pilonidal cyst. He has been on the disabled list since May 20. He is being sent to the club's spring complex in Surprise, Ariz., to continue his rehab work.

• Wednesday will mark Matt Harrison's one-year anniversary after undergoing spinal fusion surgery. He will celebrate the occasion by beginning a medical rehabilitation assignment with Round Rock. He is scheduled to throw 85 pitches in a start against Reno on Wednesday.