masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – First baseman Joe Mahoney received treatment after taking a foul ball off his right knee, and he’ll be re-evaluated tomorrow morning before the club decides whether to send him to Bradenton for the exhibition opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Mahoney had a slight limp as he returned to his locker following his team’s 7-4 intrasquad victory.

“Missed the knee cap, though” Mahoney said, showing off the red mark on the inner part of his knee. “I’m just happy I didn’t…SARASOTA, Fla. – First baseman Joe Mahoney received treatment after taking a foul ball off his right knee, and he’ll be re-evaluated tomorrow morning before the club decides whether to send him to Bradenton for the exhibition opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Mahoney had a slight limp as he returned to his locker following his team’s 7-4 intrasquad victory.

“Missed the knee cap, though” Mahoney said, showing off the red mark on the inner part of his knee. “I’m just happy I didn’t fall to the ground.”

Mahoney won the Brooks Robinson Award as the Orioles’ top minor league position player after batting .299 with 18 doubles, nine homers and 49 RBIs at Single-A Frederick, and .319 with 12 doubles, two triples, nine homers and 29 RBIs at Double-A Bowie.

Manager Buck Showalter didn’t single out many players in today’s game. He mentioned that Josh Bell played good defense at third base. Bell also had two hits and two RBIs.

“It’s good to get the cobwebs out a little bit, get some of the first-game anxiety out and get everybody on the field,” Showalter said. “It’s a process, kind of a staging thing. You go from workouts to intrasquad games and a lot of BP, exhibition games and then the season. I’m just trying to accomplish getting everybody on the field today and kind of get the rotation of the pitchers going.”

Mark Reynolds got the ball rolling – and soaring – with his grand slam off Chorye Spoone in the first inning.

Reynolds crushed a curveball from Spoone after two walks and Vladimir Guerrero’s infield hit.

“I barreled it, I hit it pretty good. I just didn’t want to be the first to strike out,” Reynolds said.

“It’s obviously good to make a first impression, but we’ve got a long way to go. A lot more at-bats. Talk to me at the end of the year.”

Reynolds walked over to hitting coach Jim Presley and said, “There’s no where to go but down from here.”

Carl Pavano will start Thursday for the Twins in Sarasota. The Orioles will send Brian Matusz and Adrian Rosario to the mound.