Hamstring strain sidelines A-Rod

BALTIMORE— Alex Rodriguez won’t be around in the next two weeks to help the New York Yankees attempt to get out of last place in the AL East.

Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day list Wednesday with a strained right hamstring.

The injury occurred Tuesday night while Rodriguez was running out a grounder in the fifth inning of a 4-1 loss to the Orioles.

Asked Wednesday to describe the extent of the injury, Rodriguez replied, “Our doctors in New York are going over it. I’m going on the DL, so it’s serious enough.”

He expressed hope Tuesday night that the injury wouldn’t put him on the disabled list. Instead, he’s stuck on the DL for the seventh time in the last nine seasons.

Rodriguez, 40, is batting .194 in 20 games. Three of his five homers came in his last five games, and he had a four-RBI night in Boston on Sunday.

“I thought I was seeing the ball better, and the quality of my at-bats were better,” he said.

New York could use his bat. The Yankees started Wednesday with an 8-16 record and were tied for last in the AL with 82 runs.

“I can’t think of a worse time to go on the DL,” Rodriguez said.

“The whole offence has been struggling. I talked to the team (Tuesday) and I said there is no reason we can’t score five runs per night.”

For now, the Yankees will be forced to do it without A-Rod.

It’s the first time Rodriguez has been on the DL since 2013, when he had a hip injury that needed surgery.

To fill the vacant spot on the roster, New York recalled left-hander James Pazos from Triple-A Scranton/Wiles Barre.

Los Angeles Angels starter Garrett Richards said he will be re-evaluated on Thursday to determine whether he can make his next start after dealing with fatigue.

Richards only went four innings in his start on Sunday against Texas because of dehydration and cramping.