Lee returns to Rangers after shot

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)

Cliff Lee returned to the Texas Rangers on Friday after spending the previous two days in Dallas, hoping that a cortisone shot in his ailing back will help him get back to his dominating self.

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Lee had been getting progressively worse over his last four starts, culminating with a loss to Kansas City in which he lasted just 4 2-3 innings and allowed seven runs — four earned — on 10 hits. In his last four starts, spanning 23 innings pitched, Lee is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA.

He flew to Dallas and had the cortisone shot on Wednesday. On Friday, Lee said his back was still sore, but he wasn't sure if that was from the shot itself or not. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday, after which the team will determine if he will make his next scheduled start on Tuesday.

''It's probably what I should've done a couple weeks ago, but the competitive side of me wants to go out there and pitch every time,'' Lee said.

The lefty said his back has been bothering him for a few weeks and was affecting his ability to locate pitches.

''I don't want to say this is the reason why I pitched bad. There's more to it than that,'' Lee said. ''I still should be able to bear down and make pitches but definitely has affected my mechanics a little bit and my ability to be consistent with location.''

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Lee finished July 9-4 with a 2.40 ERA. But as the back problem surfaced in August, his ERA gradually rose to 3.37 and after allowing just nine home runs in his first 21 starts of the season, he has given up six in his last four.

''I can pitch with it,'' he said. ''I have been pitching with it, but I want to be able to go out there and be me, go out there and locate pitches and be more consistent with location and I just haven't been. I think this is a big reason why.''

The Rangers started Friday with a 10-game lead over Oakland in the AL West, so they can afford to be cautious with Lee to make sure he is ready for the playoffs. But manager Ron Washington said the team will wait to make any decision until they see how he responds in the bullpen outing on Saturday.

''If he's available to pitch Tuesday, he will pitch Tuesday,'' Washington said. ''If there's any doubt, he won't pitch.''

Josh Hamilton, who leads the AL with a .361 average, returned to the lineup as the DH on Friday night after missing the game Wednesday to rest his aching knee. Hamilton took a shot on Tuesday and said the knee feels much better.

Washington said Hamilton was the DH to give Vladimir Guerrero and extra day off and he will be back in the outfield on Saturday.

The Rangers reinstated right-hander Dustin Nippert (head contusion) from the 15-day disabled list and purchased the contract of left-hander Clay Rapada from Triple-A Oklahoma City to beef up the bullpen.

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The team also agreed to terms with former NL All-Star Mark Prior on a minor league contract. Prior will report to Oklahoma City and sign the contract on Saturday after spending the last month pitching for Orange County in the independent Golden Baseball League.

Prior will turn 30 on Tuesday and hasn't pitched in a big league game since 2006.

Shoulder problems caused him to miss all of 2007 and 2008 and spent last year in the farm system of his hometown San Diego Padres. He signed with Orange County in August and has allowed one unearned run in nine relief appearances with 22 strikeouts and five walks.

Prior's five-year major league career with the Chicago Cubs ended in 2006. The right-hander had a 42-29 record and a 3.51 ERA in 106 starts. He made the NL All-Star team in 2003, when he was 18-6. But the deal was made more the long-term and it is highly unlikely Prior will factor into the pennant chase this season.

The team also recalled catcher Taylor Teagarden from Oklahoma City, recalled right-hander Omar Beltre from Triple-A and placed him on the 60-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle and announced that outfielder Brandon Boggs cleared waivers and was assigned to Oklahoma City.