DETROIT -- Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera wanted to stay in the game Sunday after his right hamstring cramped up in the seventh inning.

Manager Brad Ausmus wouldn't let him.

"If this was Sept. 19 and an important game and we weren't down by 10, it would have been a different story," Ausmus said after the Tigers' 12-4 blowout loss to Texas. "There was no reason to take a risk. Might as well get him out of there."

The Tigers trailed the Rangers, 12-2, at the time of the injury delay.

Cabrera confirmed after the game that he only suffered a minor cramp and expected to be ready to return to the lineup Monday for the team's series opener in Oakland.

"I'll be alright (Monday) and we'll try to win," Cabrera said. "It happens."

The cramp appears to be completely unreleated to the injury that forced him to undergo surgery to repair a core muscle this past winter.

Cabrera was spotted limping in the seventh inning when he returned to first base after taking off for second on a foul ball off the bat of Don Kelly. He was visited by head athletic trainer Kevin Rand at first after he grabbed his hamstring.

"I feel better. It just cramped," Cabrera said. "But they decided to take me out."

Cabrera is listed day-to-day, according to a team official.

Joba listed as day-to-day

Less than 15 minutes after Cabrera exited the game, right-handed reliever Joba Chamberlain was forced to leave the game due to an injury.

Chamberlain was removed in the top of the eighth inning with two outs after he suffered a right ankle contusion. He, too, is listed day-to-day.

Chamberlain suffered a deep bruise when Texas infielder Rougned Odor stepped on the back of his ankle when he covered first base on Odor's grounder.

Chamberlain was spotted limping as he walked back to the mound and was visited by Rand and Ausmus. He remained in the game, but was removed a batter later when he issued a six-pitch walk to Shin-Soo Choo.

He was replaced by right-hander Al Alburquerque, who struck out Luis Sardinas to end the inning.

"I've hurt this ankle before, and I thought I could keep going, because I didn't want Al to have to pitch again," Chamberlain said. "But after that first batter, I could tell it was swelling a little."

Chamberlain had his foot wrapped in ice after the game and said he expects to be available Monday if needed.

"The concern level is low," Ausmus said. "It's just a contusion."

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