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MLB: Giants’ Hunter Strickland out six to eight weeks after punching door in frustration after blowing save

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Giants closer Hunter Strickland broke his pitching hand punching a door in frustration after blowing the save and taking the loss in a 5-4 defeat to the Miami Marlins on Monday night.

The right-hander was undergoing surgery Tuesday and expected to be out six to eight weeks, manager Bruce Bochy said. An X-ray after the game revealed the break of Strickland’s pinkie, similar to what sidelined lefty ace Madison Bumgarner to begin the season after he was hurt in his final spring training start.

Bochy says he is “thoroughly disappointed, I’m crushed” because Strickland had shown maturity and made progress keeping his emotions in check since last year’s fight with Nationals star Bryce Harper.

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Sam Dyson and Tony Watson will be called upon for closing duties, with one getting most of the opportunities though Bochy didn’t reveal which one that would be. The manager doesn’t consider Mark Melancon — signed to a $62 million, four-year deal before last season to work the ninth — ready for the role.

Rangers send Mendez to minors for breaking team rules

The Texas Rangers have optioned rookie left-hander Yohander Mendez back to Triple-A Round Rock for violating team rules.

Mendez was supposed to start Wednesday’s series finale against Kansas City. But right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx will get the ball instead.

General manager Jon Daniels says at least one other player was involved, but his discipline will be handled in-house. He says the incident is “not criminal, nothing involving MLB or the police.”

Second baseman Rougned Odor was scratched from Texas’ lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Royals, but manager Jeff Banister refused to comment on if the benching was related to Mendez’s punishment.

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The 23-year-old Mendez is 0-1 with a 14.73 ERA in two games, one start, with the Rangers this season.

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