CLEVELAND — Seattle Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz, who leads the American League with 18 home runs, is out of the lineup for the second straight game because of back spasms.
Cruz didn’t play Wednesday after his back tightened up during an at-bat in Tuesday’s series opener. He hoped to play Thursday against the Cleveland Indians, but Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon decided to give him another day off.
Cruz, who is batting .326 with 39 RBI in 58 games, could return Friday against Houston.
Kyle Seager, who hit a grand slam and drove in five runs from the cleanup spot Wednesday in a 9-3 win, was batting fourth once again.
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