Josh Hamilton in hospital for intestinal virus

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton was hospitalized early Friday after becoming dehydrated because of an intestinal virus and likely will miss the weekend series against Houston.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton was hospitalized early Friday after becoming dehydrated because of an intestinal virus and likely will miss the weekend series against Houston.

The Rangers said Hamilton was receiving fluids in the hospital because of a virus going around his family. He was expected to be released by today.

Hamilton was replaced in the field late Thursday night in an 11-3 loss to Arizona after telling manager Ron Washington that he had a stomach ache. Before that, the manager had seen nothing to indicate Hamilton wasn’t feeling good.

“That’s why he came out, he said he had a stomach ache,” Washington said. “I didn’t know it was going to lead to him being in the hospital.”

Braves release

Hernandez

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves recalled right-hander Kris Medlen from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday and designated right-hander Livan Hernandez for assignment.

The 37-year-old Hernandez was 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA and one save — the first of his 17-year career —with the Braves. He gave up seven hits and five runs in 1 2⁄3 innings against Toronto in his last appearance Sunday.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who like Hernandez is a native of Cuba, said the move wasn’t easy because of his long relationship with the right-hander. Gonzalez was a minor league manager with the Marlins when the team signed Hernandez in 1996.

MRI shows Drabek has ligament tear

TORONTO — Blue Jays right-hander Kyle Drabek may require elbow surgery for the second time after an MRI on Friday revealed a torn ligament.

Drabek, who underwent ligament replacement surgery as a minor leaguer in 2007, will visit noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews on Monday to confirm the diagnosis.

The former first-round pick left Wednesday’s start against Washington in the fifth inning after a “popping” in the back of the elbow.

The Blue Jays placed Drabek on the 15-day disabled list earlier Friday, calling the injury a sprain, before general manager Alex Anthopoulos revealed the tear later in the afternoon, before Toronto’s game against Philadelphia.

Drabek is 4-7 with a 4.67 ERA in 13 starts.

Reds put Stubbs on

DL, bring up Harris

NEW YORK — The Cincinnati Reds placed center fielder Drew Stubbs on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained muscle on his left side and called up utilityman Willie Harris from Triple-A Louisville.

The team announced the moves before the opener of a three-game series against the New York Mets. Chris Heisey, who had been subbing for Stubbs in center, was out of the starting lineup after leaving Thursday’s game against Cleveland with a mild groin strain.

“He didn’t pull it. It’s just tight,” manager Dusty Baker said. “Those big old strong legs he has, tight means real tight.”

Wilson Valdez made his first major league start in center for Cincinnati.

Stubbs went on the DL retroactive to June 6, and Baker said he hopes the outfielder will be healthy enough to come off when the team returns home next Friday against Minnesota.

MLB denies Mets’

appeal for no-hitter

NEW YORK — Nice try, Mets. It’s not a no-hitter.

Major League Baseball denied the team’s appeal of an official scoring decision during R.A. Dickey’s one-hitter at Tampa Bay. The knuckleballer allowed only an infield single Wednesday night, and New York asked the commissioner’s office to review the play and consider whether third baseman David Wright should have been charged with an error on B.J. Upton’s hit.

The Mets said Friday the appeal was turned down, just as they expected.

Dickey did not ask the Mets to appeal, but he said he appreciated the gesture.

The speedy Upton hit a high bouncer in the first inning that Wright was unable to field with his bare hand. The play was ruled a hit, and after the game Collins said the Mets would appeal.

MLB can overturn official scoring decisions if it believes a mistake was made.

Longoria to be re-evaluated Tuesday

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria could be ready to rejoin the Rays next week.

Longoria, set to start a minor league rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Durham, will have his status re-evaluated Tuesday.

Longoria, who has been on the 15-day disabled list with a partially torn left hamstring since May 1, will be the designated hitter for Durham today.

The three-time All-Star was hitting .329 with four homers and 19 RBIs in 23 games before getting hurt. Longoria was injured April 30 while running to second base on an attempted steal.