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Rangers' Cruz leaves game with low back stiffness

Posted: 8:02 PM Aug 10, 2012
Reporter: Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Texas Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz left Friday night's game against Detroit because of lower back stiffness.

Cruz appeared to get hurt in the seventh inning when he dived in an attempt to catch a ball hit by Austin Jackson. The ball bounced in front of Cruz, then over his glove and rolled to the wall as Jackson rounded the bases for the first inside-the-park home run of his career.

Cruz appeared to be reaching to his back when the play was over, but stayed in the game.

Two batters later, Cruz had an error when he dropped an easy popup that would have ended the inning.

In the top of the eighth, Craig Gentry entered the game in center field. Josh Hamilton moved to left, and David Murphy went to right.