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Texas starter Jon Gray exits early after comebacker hits right elbow

HOUSTON -- Texas Rangers right-hander Jon Gray left Saturday night's 8-2 loss to the Houston Astros in the third inning with a bruised forearm after being hit on his throwing elbow by a line drive.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Gray was lifted because he had numbness in his arm after he was hit. But he added that X-rays were negative and he expects Gray to make his next start.

There were no outs in the bottom of the third when Houston catcher Yainer Diaz hit a comebacker that bounced off Gray's elbow.

Gray shook his arm and winced right after being hit and before Bochy and a trainer came to the mound to check on him. After being checked out by the trainer and wiggling his fingers, he threw a couple of warmup pitches.

He soon stopped throwing and talked to the trainer for a bit longer before leaving the game.

Gray was replaced by Cole Ragans with the Rangers leading 2-0.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.