Texas Rangers

Blalock update

The carpal-tunnel syndrome in the right hand of Hank Blalock hasn't responded to medication yet, prompting manager Ron Washington to believe that Blalock won't be activated from the disabled list during the Rangers' three-game series at Tampa Bay.

Washington expects that Frank Catalanotto will be able to return to first base in time for Tuesday's game, and Chris Shelton will likely get another start Monday against Rays lefty Scott Kazmir.

Today's lineup

Chris Shelton is one of the few Rangers to have success against C.C. Sabathia, so he will bat sixth this afternoon at Progressive Field.

Ian Kinsler, 2B

Michael Young, SS

Josh Hamilton, CF

Milton Bradley, DH

David Murphy, LF

Chris Shelton, 1B

Marlon Byrd, RF

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

German Duran, 3B

Davis jumps a level

The Rangers announced after their 5-2 loss to the Indians that top prospect Chris Davis has been promoted from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Oklahoma. The native Texasn hit .333 for Frisco with team-highs in homers (13) and RBI (42).

Tonight's lineup

Milton Bradley is the designated hitter after his appearance in right field Friday. Manager Ron Washington said Bradley might be in the outfield again Sunday. If not, he probably won't return to right field until the Rangers start their longest homestand of the season Friday.

Ian Kinsler, 2B

Michael Young, SS

Josh Hamilton, CF

Milton Bradley, DH

David Murphy, LF

Gerald Laird, C

Marlon Byrd, RF

Chris Shelton, 1B

German Duran, 3B

The Prog

A Cleveland taxi driver reports that locals have taken to calling Progressive Field "The Prog" after the insurance company bought the naming rights and pushed Jacobs Field off the marquee. I like it. I also like the ballpark more than any other I've seen this season.

Mercifully, I didn't make the Detroit leg of the nine-game road trip last month, and Tampa isn't on my itinerary either. But here's how I rank the parks I've seen this season.

1. The Prog: I'm sure some think its blasphemy to pick a new park as my favorite, especially over Fenway Park. This joint has a great view of downtown and is surprisingly clean, the surrounding area is nice, and the amenities for the visiting players are superb.

2. Fenway Park: History makes up for a lot of the old park's shortcomings. The Green Monster is, indeed, pretty cool, and the concourse smells like Italian sausage the entire game. Red Sox fans have been the best fans so far.

3. Safeco Field: The main difference between it and The Prog is that there aren't any views of downtown Seattle. It feels a lot like Coors Field in Denver.

4. Angels Stadium: Not bad for 40-year-old building that was renovated in the late 1990s. Right field isn't ideal, but that's what you get at a former football stadium.

5. Metrodome: A real tough call here. It's advantage over the other dome so far is that the fans are right on top of the field. The visiting clubhouse isn't very good at all.

6. Rogers Centre: Very clean, but the shade of blue and the seventh-inning stretch song Let's Play Ball just aren't acceptable.

7. McAfee Coliseum: The concourses are crowded. The seating is terrible. The stands in center field and right field are an abomination. I would like to see a football game there, though.

-- Jeff Wilson

Tonight's lineup

With Hank Blalock unable to play, Chris Shelton is back at first. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is back behind the plate, and Milton Bradley returns to right field.

Ian Kinsler, 2B

Michael Young, SS

Josh Hamilton, DH

Milton Bradley, RF

David Murphy, CF

Brandon Boggs, LF

Chris Shelton, 1B

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

Ramon Vazquez, 3B

New issue for Blalock

Hank Blalock will not make his debut at first base Friday and he remains on the 15-day disabled list after carpal-tunnel syndrome developed in his right hand during his rehab stint in Surprise, Ariz.

Chris Shelton will be at first base against the Indians.

Blalock said has experienced numbness in his hand, especially in the mornings. He said one explanation for the carpal-tunnel could be how he sleeps on the wrist.

He didn't disclose his condition until he arrived at Progressive Field today and told trainer Jamie Reed.

"I was able to play with it the last couple days in Arizona," he said. "I'm more confuse than anything. I feel like I lead the league in syndromes."

Blalock missed most of last season with thorasic outlet syndrome. He said it is medically impossible to have a recurrence of that condition after the operation he had to correct it last year.

Surgery for Grieve

Tom Grieve, a former Rangers player and general manager who has served as TV analyst the past 14 years, is scheduled to undergo prostate surgery June 9 and miss two to three weeks in the broadcast booth after working the June 8 game against Tampa Bay.

"Many men my age find themselves in this situation," Grieve, 60, said in a statement released by the Rangers. "I am told the odds for complete recovery are very good. While I'm out, I'll be watching every inning of every game and hope we're in first place when I settle back in."

Radio analyst Victor Rojas will be Grieve's substitute alongside Josh Lewin, and Steve Busby will take Rojas' radio spot next to Eric Nadel.

Extra innings again; Hamilton again

The Rangers' bullpen faltered for the second time in the series, and they are now in extra innings. Five straight Rangers struck out before Josh Hamilton just hit a solo home run to left field for a 8-7 lead.

Rangers score two more; Padilla done

Chris Shelton pushed the Rangers' cushion to 6-3 with a two-run double in the sixth that ended the day for Twins start Livan Hernandez. The Rangers loaded the bases later in the inning, but Josh Hamilton hit into an inning-ending double play.

Vicente Padilla did not come out for the sixth after throwing 102 pitches in five innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits and was replaced by Jamey Wright, who walked in a run to make it 6-4. The Twins are still batting in the sixth with Frank Francisco called upon to get the final out.