Designated hitter exits game with left shoulder strain

Tampa Bay's designated hitter and American League batting leader was removed from Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks after straining his left shoulder. The player took a heavy swing against Arizona's Merrill Kelly in the bottom of the fifth inning. Trainers examined him after a swing-and-a-miss, but he remained in the game and later grounded out to shortstop.

Injury details Richie Palacios entered as a pinch hitter to start the seventh inning. Tampa Bay held a 5-0 lead at the time of the substitution and completed a three-game sweep with a 5-1 win. Officials announced the left-shoulder strain and listed the player as day to day.

336 batting average. The player ranks second on the club with 53 runs batted in. His sacrifice fly in the second inning tied him with Aubrey Huff for fifth-most RBIs in franchise history with 449.