Joaquin Benoit’s sore right shoulder has finally caught up with him. Benoit, who said his shoulder hasn’t been 100 percent all season, was put on the 15-day disabled list Saturday. Benoit has pitched just six times in the last month and has been mostly ineffective all season, posting a 3-2 record with a 5.60 ERA. There’s no timetable on Benoit’s return. His immediate focus is strengthening the arm.

"I have to be aware that I have to be 100 percent before I can be in a game,"Benoit said."I’ve felt like I can pitch, but I haven’t been 100 percent."

Benoit’s roster spot was taken by Dustin Nippert, who had his contract purchased from Oklahoma. Nippert will serve as a long reliever after working as a starter for the RedHawks. Nippert was 6-2 for Oklahoma, including a no-hitter. Nippert made six appearances earlier this year with the Rangers, going 1-2 with a 16.62 ERA.

Padilla update

Vicente Padilla said his sore right shoulder was still bothering him Saturday. The Rangers hope Padilla can throw a bullpen session today and make his scheduled start against the Angels on Wednesday.

"That’s four days away,"Rangers manager Ron Washington said of Padilla’s chances of making the start."I think we better wait until we get a little closer. We just have to wait and see if he can make his bullpen [session]."

Washington said the team has discussed options if Eric Hurley or Padilla can’t make their starts. One would be Matt Harrison, who is scheduled to pitch for Oklahoma on Tuesday.

Hurley optimistic

Rangers starter Eric Hurley said his sore left hamstring felt better Saturday, and he believes he’ll be ready for his Tuesday start against Los Angeles. Hurley was scratched from Saturday’s game after the hamstring tightened up on him.

"I should be fine,"Hurley said."I played catch today and it felt good. I don’t see it being any problem."

Saltalamacchia hurt?

Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia left Saturday’s game during a sixth inning at-bat with a right groin strain. He was replaced by Max Ramirez, leaving the Rangers with only one healthy catcher. Ron Washington doesn’t think Saltalamacchia’s injury is serious, and he’s available today.

"He just tweaked his groin a little bit and we didn’t want to take a chance with him in the box, especially with the torque you’ve got to have to swing the bat,"Washington said."All we needed was for him to take a swing at something and make it worse than what it is."

Briefly

Starter A.J. Murray has yet to throw since going on the disabled list June 4 with a strained left rotator cuff. Doug Mathis, on the DL since June 20 with right shoulder inflammation, is now playing long toss.

The Rangers signed former Oakland reliever Kiko Calero to a minor league contract and assigned him to Oklahoma.

Oakland Athletics' Kiko Calero (50) waits for St. Louis Cardinals' Chris Duncan, left, to round the bases after Calero gave up a grand slam to Duncan in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 16, 2007, in Oakland, Calif. " align="left" border="0">

Juan Encarnacion did the little things to get the St. Louis offense going again. So Taguchi did his share, too. Chris Duncan provided the power stroke with a pinch-hit grand slam. Encarnacion doubled to extend his hitting streak to 16 games and drove in three runs, Taguchi had three RBIs, and the Cardinals bounced back from a rout a night earlier with a lopsided 15-6 victory of their own over the...