SEATTLE (AP) -Seattle Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson, who has missed nine of the last 11 games, has been diagnosed with tendinitis in his left hamstring and will likely be out for another 10 days.

Sexson had an MRI on Tuesday, and doctors discovered the cause of the pain and discomfort he has been experiencing in his left leg. The source of the tendinitis is in Sexson's hamstring, but near his hip at the origin of his hamstring. Trainer Rick Griffin said it's a rare area for tendinitis to develop, and Sexson was told to do nothing for 10 days.

``He was relieved he found out what it is. It was hurting his back and down his leg,'' manager John McLaren said. ``He's not going to be back anytime soon. At least we found out what it is.''

Sexson has struggled all season at the plate, hovering around .200. Griffin speculated that the extra work Sexson put in before games trying to break out of his hitting slump could have contributed to the tendinitis developing.

Sexson, who is hitting .205 with 21 homers and 63 RBIs, could return for the final week of the season.

``If we get things going he would like to contribute somewhere, somehow, sometime,'' McLaren said. ``He's always been that way. I do appreciate that about the veteran players wanting to get back out there.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.