Injury Sidelines Rangers’ Gonzalez

Juan Gonzalez was put on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a torn muscle in his right hand, the latest injury blow for the Texas Rangers.

Gonzalez was injured when he was jammed on a swing in Oakland a week ago. He played the next two games but--after a two-day break because of a rainout and a scheduled day off--pulled himself out of Tuesday night’s game against the Athletics after his first at-bat.

“It’s surprising because it’s the first time in my career that my right hand has bothered me,” said Gonzalez, a two-time AL MVP. “It’s part of the game, and I’m not going to put my head down. I’ve had a lot of injuries before and come back and put up good numbers.”

An X-ray Tuesday night found nothing. But Gonzalez had an MRI and saw a hand specialist Wednesday, and the tear was found in fiber between his thumb and index finger.

The move is retroactive to Wednesday. The Rangers recalled infielder Mike Lamb, a former Bishop Amat High and Cal State Fullerton standout, from triple-A Oklahoma to fill Gonzalez’s spot on the roster.

Gonzalez joined No. 1 starter Chan Ho Park (right hamstring) and closer Jeff Zimmerman (tendinitis right elbow) on the disabled list.

Oakland Athletic starter Mark Mulder left Thursday’s game against Texas after four innings because of tightness in his left forearm.

“It just got real tight on me,” Mulder said after the Athletics’ 7-0 loss. “I didn’t have command.”

Mulder (2-1), a 21-game winner last year, gave up four runs and six hits in four innings against the Rangers.

Florida Manager Jeff Torborg was suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount for excessive arguing during the Marlins’ home opener.

Right-hander Kevin Olsen also was suspended three games and fined for intentionally throwing at and hitting Philadelphia’s Marlon Anderson last Friday.

Matt Harrington, a second-round pick of the San Diego Padres last year, signed with the Long Beach Breakers of the independent Western League. Harrington, who was drafted No. 7 overall but never signed with the Colorado Rockies after graduating from Palmdale High in 2000, pitched for the St. Paul Saints of the Northern League last season.

Cincinnati Red reliever Luis Pineda was suspended for three games for hitting Todd Hundley of the Cubs with a pitch last week.... The Reds put catcher Kelly Stinnett on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right elbow.