Homer Pool: Take Your Marks; Josh Hamilton Out Of Rangers Lineup

Having already clinched a winning home stand, the Rangers will try to finish off their first four-game sweep of Oakland in more than 20 years. This is the lineup that will take the field against Oakland LHP Dallas Braden:

2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young, DH Andruw Jones, RF Nelson Cruz, 1B Hank Blalock, CF Marlon Byrd, LF David Murphy (oops, almost forgot him), C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Kevin Millwood.

You will notice the absence of Josh Hamilton from the lineup. He’s resting a sore groin that has been balky since he ran into the outfield wall two weeks ago. Manager Ron Washington said he hopes that taking today off, in combination with tomorrow’s off day should get Hamilton refreshed. Washington said a second trip to the DL is not currently on the table. Hamilton is 8-for-36 (.222) with two walks and one homer since returning from the groin strain on May 22.

“Sometimes when you are battling injuries, you just can’t drive the way you would like,” manager Ron Washington said.