Yankees slugger Beltran leaves with tight hamstring

New York Yankees' Carlos Beltran, right, leaves the game with trainer Steve Donohue after an injury while running to first base on a single. (Kathy Willens/AP)

NEW YORK — Carlos Beltran has left the New York Yankees‘ game against Texas with a tight right hamstring.

The 39-year-old slugger was lifted after hitting a sharp single in the first inning Tuesday night. A few innings later, the Yankees announced Beltran was undergoing an MRI exam.

Beltran has been by far the best hitter in a struggling New York lineup this season. He began the night batting .294 with 19 home runs and 53 RBIs.

Batting right-handed against lefty Cole Hamels, Beltran pulled a line drive into the left-field corner and broke well out of the batter’s box. But he pulled up after rounding first and went back to the bag even when the ball initially eluded left fielder Ryan Rua.

Manager Joe Girardi and trainer Steve Donohue came out to check on Beltran, who crouched behind first base before walking back to the dugout with Donohue.

Beltran was replaced by pinch runner Rob Refsnyder, who took over in right field for Beltran as well.

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