CLEVELAND — There was good news and bad news about Fausto Carmona on Sunday.
An MRI taken Saturday revealed that the right-hander doesn’t have a serious left hip injury. But he does have an articular muscle strain that will keep him on the disabled list until late June.
“It will have no implications on his career, but he’s going to miss approximately four weeks and he won’t be able to play catch for approximately seven days,” Tribe trainer Lonnie Soloff said. “We call it a hip injury, but it’s not actually in the hip joint. It’s on the outside and is all very superficial, which is a good thing.”
Carmona suffered the injury Friday during the third inning of Cleveland’s 13-9 loss to Texas. After releasing a pitch, he lunged across the mound to run toward first base, but felt a twinge in his hip and left the game.
The 24-year-old went on the DL with a 4-2 record and a 3.10 ERA, with 38 walks and 23 strikeouts in 10 starts. Jake Westbrook will assume his spot in the rotation.
“It’s not that uncommon of an injury in the sports world, but it is uncommon for a starting pitcher,” Soloff said. “Fausto is a maximum-effort guy, so the combination of finishing the pitch and having to cover first at the same time caused the strain.”
Carmona will be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, along with ice and in-pool therapy sessions. He has been advised to stay off his feet, though Soloff added, “If he can do it pain-free, he can walk.”
Once Carmona is ready to resume some physical activity — next weekend or shortly thereafter — he will begin rehab. A week of long-toss exercises will be followed by a mound program, then a set of simulated games.
If everything goes according to plan, Carmona could be back in uniform June 24 when Omar Vizquel and the San Francisco Giants make their first-ever trip to Progressive Field.
“Since we’re in the season, his arm is already in condition,” Soloff said. “It is what it is. Once the strain heals, he’ll be fine.”

Clipper nails Victor

Catcher Victor Martinez was back in the Indians lineup after missing two games with an infected left middle finger. The two-time All-Star is one of the most talented backstops in the American League, but his grooming skills are still a work in progress.
“He had a hangnail, so he gave himself a manicure with a pair of fingernail clippers,” Soloff said, failing to suppress a smile. “He pulled a very thick layer of skin off and got an infection.”
Martinez had the inside third of the nail removed by a hand surgeon Friday at the Cleveland Clinic, but was back on the field Sunday with his finger tightly taped. The .301 career hitter didn’t miss a beat, singling home Ben Francisco in his first at-bat against Rangers starter Doug Mathis.
“It felt fine,” said Martinez, who went
1-for-5 in the 2-1 loss in 10 innings. “My finger didn’t affect the way I played today.”

Tribe tidbits

  The Indians were denied their 8,500th franchise victory Sunday, but recorded their 100th all-time loss against Texas.
• Andy Marte and Kelly Shoppach were the only position players not to see action in the extra-inning affair.
• Right fielder Ben Francisco is hitting .379 (11-for-29) at home after going
6-for-14 (.429) in the Rangers series. Despite only playing in 20 of Cleveland’s 50 games, he leads the team with 11 doubles.
• Aaron Laffey (1.60), C.C. Sabathia (1.61) and Cliff Lee (1.76) rank 1-2-3 in the AL in ERA since April 17. Boston’s Daisuke Matsuzaka is fourth at 2.21.
• On the season, Laffey’s 1.60 ERA would sit second in the AL behind Lee’s 1.50, but he is 161/3 innings shy of qualifying for the leaders.
• The Indians are 2-5 in Sunday games, 1-3 in extra innings and 4-5 in one-run decisions.

Rangers report

Center fielder Josh Hamilton had eight straight multiple-hit games — one shy of the team record set by Rusty Greer in 2000 — before going 0-for-2 and being ejected on a called third strike in the sixth inning. It was the first time the once-troubled phenom has been tossed this year. Hamilton leads the AL in RBIs, is tied for first in home runs and is second in batting average.
• Second baseman Ian Kinsler extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a solo home run.
• Manager Ron Washington played shortstop for the Indians in 1988.
• Mathis was such an afterthought over the winter that he was relegated to page 342 in Texas’ media guide and is incorrectly listed as a lefty.
• Former Indians general manager John Hart is the Rangers’ senior adviser for baseball operations.

On deck

The Indians host the White Sox in a three-game series beginning tonight at 7:05 as Paul Byrd (2-4, 4.10) opposes Chicago’s Javier Vazquez (5-3, 3.43). Laffey (2-3, 1.60) takes the ball Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. against White Sox veteran Mark Buehrle (2-5, 4.82).
Cleveland has not officially announced a starter for Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. against Gavin Floyd (4-3, 2.93).
Westbrook (1-2, 2.73), who has been on the DL since April 22 with a left intercostal strain, will get the nod unless he has a setback in the interim.
• A postgame fireworks show is slated for this evening, which is also Sugardale Dollar Dog Night and McDonald’s Big Mac Monday.

Roundin’ third

The Indians’ seven-game losing streak that ended Saturday was their longest since 2004.
• Joe Borowski is tied for sixth place in Tribe history with 48 saves.
• The Tribe ranks 22nd in the big leagues in average attendance at 24,773 per date. The only AL clubs lower on the list are Texas (24,077), Baltimore (23,911), Oakland (20,255), Tampa Bay (18,722) and Kansas City (18,616).
• All kids 14 and under received plush dolls of the Indians’ new ketchup hot dog mascot.
Contact Brian Dulik at (330) 721-4059 or brisports@hotmail.com.

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