If Omar Beltre is going to continue to be a part of the Rangers rotation, he’s going to have to pitch more efficiently.

Manager Ron Washington and catcher Bengie Molina agreed on that following Monday’s 9-3 loss to the Indians.

“Tonight he just didn’t have command,’’ Washington said of Beltre’s outing, which lasted only three innings. Beltre in his second start allowed four hits and four runs, all earned. He walked three and only 37 of his 72 pitches were strikes.

After two starts, Beltre is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. He’s walked seven in seven innings.

“He was throwing pretty good,’’ said Molina after catching Beltre for the first time, “but he threw a lot of pitches. He fell behind a couple of guys.’’

Carlos Santana got ahead in the count and hit a 424-foot upper-deck homer into the porch in right in the second and Matt LaPorta followed later in the inning with a 375-foot blast to left.

“He was missing his spot and threw some pitches over the middle of the plate,’’ Washington said.

Three Rangers pitchers after Beltre didn’t go unscathed, either. The bullpen allowed five earned runs in six innings.

*Instant replay was used at the Ballpark for the first time this season and resulted in three Rangers’ runs coming off the scoreboard.

Nelson Cruz’ drive down the right field line in the seventh inning was first signaled to be a home run. After looking at instant replay, the call was reversed to a foul ball.

“It was foul,’’ Washington said. “I didn’t see it when it happened, but I saw a replay.’’

Cruz was called back from the dugout and struck out.

“It’s a long season,’’ said Cruz. “Sometimes things are going good, sometimes so-so and sometimes you can’t do anything. You just try to do it better the next time.’’

*The Rangers best opportunity to get back in the game fizzled with back-to-back called strikeouts by Josh Hamilton and Cruz in the fifth inning. The Rangers trailed 6-2 at the time and had the bases loaded.

“That was the inning where we expect to get back in the game and have a chance,’’ Washington said. “With a season this long, it happens. But the guys are still busting it and playing hard.’’