TORONTO — Adrian Beltre wanted to stay in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Thursday afternoon, but with a stiff lower back, he could not, and the Rangers will have to hope he gets healthy quickly.
Beltre will be evaluated further, but with Friday’s game set for 12:37 p.m. ET, it will be a tough turnaround. Texas took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series with a 5-3 victory in which Beltre helped set the tone with an RBI single.
"The availability as we know it right now is that I have no information on that," Texas manager Jeff Banister said.
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Beltre smacked a single off Blue Jays ace David Price in the third inning to give Texas a 2-0 lead, but as Kevin Pillar’s throw came in from center field to unsuccessfully try to nab Rougned Odor at the plate, Beltre still had not quite made it to first base. As a trainer visited, Beltre held his lower back, but stayed in and ran the bases.
"What he did in his last at-bat is phenomenal," Banister said. "Talked about it all year long, just how tough this man is and what he's capable of doing. You never count him out. ... He's the heart and soul of this ballclub."
Beltre, who hit .287/.334/.453 with 18 homers and 83 RBIs this year, has been a remarkably durable player over his career, playing at least 120 games every year since his rookie season in 1998, except for 2009, when he played 111 with Seattle.
"Adrian, when he slid into second base came up with some back spasms," Banister said. "Further evaluation, we'll know more tonight and also in the morning where he's at."
When Prince Fielder grounded out to end the top of the third, Beltre was surrounded by four teammates and another trainer, just off second base. Finally, he had to come out of the game, replaced at third base by Hanser Alberto, who cleanly fielded his first opportunity on a ground ball by Russell Martin.
Alberto went 0 for 2 at the plate. He fielded Martin's grounder in the ninth inning and tagged Justin Smoak for the final out of the game.