ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas superstar Josh Hamilton was out of the team's lineup for Monday's game against Seattle as the slugger continues to be slowed by an upper respiratory infection.
Hamilton has been feeling bad since a May 18-20 series in Houston, but has been able to play through the sickness.
That came to an end Monday as Hamilton said he's still not feeling any better.
"The last couple of days have been a little weird," Hamilton said. "Any time you've got inner-ear stuff or sinus stuff or chest stuff, it all goes back to not feeling quite right as far as your equilibrium, just feeling off."
Hamilton missed a team charity event Sunday and slept for more than 17 hours. But he still didn't feel well and called manager Ron Washington to ask for a day off.
Hamilton had a game-winning home run in Saturday's game against Toronto but went 0-for-4 on Sunday as Texas tallied 12 hits in a 12-6 win. Hamilton said he felt dizzy in the outfield and was getting oxygen during the game. He received oxygen and intravenous fluids following Sunday's game.
"It started in Houston and I've just been battling ever since," he said. "I've been on about everything I can be on to try and get better quicker. It just seems like it's one of those things that's just going to have to run its course. I think coming back and being in the heat on top of feeling like I do, it kind of snowballed on me a little bit. It made it worse than it probably is."
Monday's game will mark the fourth start Hamilton's missed this month. Despite that, he’s set a franchise record for homers in May with 11. That’s also the most in the majors in May and he’s second in RBI with 28.
Hamilton isn't the only player in the Texas clubhouse who hasn't been feeling well. Mike Napoli missed two games with the stomach flu. Derek Holland started Saturday despite having stomach problems and Yu Darvish had some tightness in his stomach during his Sunday start that led to back stiffness.
"He (Hamilton) came in looking bad and I took him out (of the lineup)," Washington said. "We'll deal with tomorrow when it arrives."
