BRONX, NY (AP) -- If the Yankees are going to make a big comeback in the American League championship series, it could be without Mark Teixeira.
The slumping slugger strained his right hamstring running out a grounder in the fifth inning of New York's 10-3 loss to the Texas Rangers in Game 4 on Tuesday night. He gingerly walked off the field with assistance and was sent for an MRI at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
"Tex talked about he felt something pop in his hamstring," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Barring some miracle he won't be with us tomorrow playing. We plan on bringing up (Eduardo) Nunez, so he'd be out the next round as well. it doesn't look good.
"It really doesn't look very good."
And despite his oh-for-ALCS, losing Teixiera for any length of time would be a serious blow to the scuffling Yankees' hopes of repeating as World Series champions - or making a comeback from a 3-1 deficit in this seven-game series.
Teixeira grabbed at the back of his leg as he approached the bag and winced in pain as he stumbled through the last couple of uneven strides and slid awkwardly into the base. He was safe on a wide throw from third baseman Michael Young, who was trying to complete a double play.
Girardi and assistant trainer Steve Donohue came out to check on the two-time All-Star as the Yankee Stadium crowd became eerily quiet. There was little protest from the Gold Glover who played through a broken toe and sore thumb for much of the second half before he left the game to a groan from the fans, disappearing into the clubhouse for possibly the last time this season.
Marcus Thames entered as a pinch-runner and stayed in the game in right field. Nick Swisher moved from right field to Teixeira's spot at first base.
The Yankees could replace Teixeira on the ALCS roster, but that would make him ineligible for the World Series if they advance.
The No. 3 hitter is 0 for 14 in the ALCS, his second straight rough postseason. Last year, he hit .180 (11 for 61) but hit a game-winning homer against Minnesota in the division series.
Still the three-time Gold Glove winner has provided stellar defense. He started a difficult 3-6-1 double play in the fifth inning Tuesday, ranging far to his right while avoiding a shard from Mitch Moreland's broken bat to field the ball.
And despite his struggles at the plate, he's always a threat. Teixeira slumped early this season but ended up hitting 33 homers and driving in 108 runs.
And the Yankees, who came into the game hitting .194 in the ALCS, can use all the help they can get. They repeatedly failed to come up with the big hit Tuesday.
Alex Rodriguez was 0 for 2, ending a threat in the fifth inning by grounding into a double play. He is hitting .133 for the series.
New York loaded the bases with one out on three walks in the eighth, but Swisher hit a popup to center field, and Lance Berkman hit into a fielder's choice.
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
