Tepesch leaves after being hit by line drive

ARLINGTON, Texas – Rangers rookie righthander Nick Tepesch left in the second inning of Saturday’s game against Seattle after being struck on the right forearm by a line drive.

Tepesch (1-1) was making his third career start when he was hit by a ball struck by the Mariner’s Jesus Montero. The ball was hit with such force that it rolled far into left-center field and left Tepesch with a cut on his arm.

Tepesch tossed some warm-up pitches after the injury but was soon sent to the dugout in favor of long reliever Derek Lowe.

The initial diagnosis was a right wrist contusion and he will be evaluated again on Sunday. When he left the game, Tepesch had thrown 21 pitches, 18 of them for strikes, and allowed two hits. He struck out three.

The Tepesch injury comes one day after the Rangers learned Opening Day starter Matt Harrison would not return until after the All-Star break because of surgery for a herniated disk.

The Rangers currently have six pitchers on the disabled list, including starters Colby Lewis and Martin Perez and reliever Joakim Soria.

Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire