Angels DH Kendrys Morales out because of Achilles’ tendon injury

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Designated hitter Kendrys Morales, who missed a year and a half because of a broken left ankle, is experiencing soreness in his left Achilles’ tendon and is not in the lineup for Friday night’s game against the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington.

Morales, who played in one of the team’s previous three games, said the Achilles’ tendon has bothered him for three or four days. He grew so concerned about it Friday that he placed a call to Colorado to speak to Dr. Thomas Clanton, who performed the second surgery on his ankle in May 2011.

“He told me it’s normal for that to bother me, since I’ve gone almost two years without playing regularly, and that I need to take a day or two off to rest,” Morales said through a translator. “There’s no real risk [of a major setback] because it’s the Achilles.”

Morales is taking anti-inflammatory medication and hopes to be available to pinch-hit Friday night and Saturday and to start Sunday. But if the discomfort persists, he could receive an injection.

The switch-hitter, who has been batting cleanup against right-handed pitchers, told Manager Mike Scioscia of his sore tendon for the first time Friday.

“It’s better to lose one or two days now,” Morales said, “than to lose the whole season.”

The Angels lineup: CF Mike Trout, 3B Maicer Izturis, 1B Albert Pujols, RF Torii Hunter, DH Mark Trumbo, 2B Howie Kendrick, LF Vernon Wells, SS Erick Aybar, C Bobby Wilson, P C.J. Wilson.

The Rangers lineup: 2B Ian Kinsler, SS Elvis Andrus, LF Josh Hamilton, DH Adrian Beltre, 3B Michael Young, RF Nelson Cruz, 1B Mike Napoli, C Yorvit Torrealba, CF Craig Gentry, P Yu Darvish.

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Angels DH Kendrys Morales out because of Achilles’ injury