masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – The result of today’s game between the Orioles and Red Sox no longer will matter in the home clubhouse.

The big concern centers around Wilson Betemit, who left the field on a cart after appearing to injure his right knee in the fifth inning. He had a brace on his right leg while being assisted inside the clubhouse.

Betemit fell between first and second base on Manny Machado’s fly ball to left field. Betemit was rolling in the dirt in pain as the Red Sox doubled him off…SARASOTA, Fla. – The result of today’s game between the Orioles and Red Sox no longer will matter in the home clubhouse.

The big concern centers around Wilson Betemit, who left the field on a cart after appearing to injure his right knee in the fifth inning. He had a brace on his right leg while being assisted inside the clubhouse.

Betemit fell between first and second base on Manny Machado’s fly ball to left field. Betemit was rolling in the dirt in pain as the Red Sox doubled him off first to end the inning.

Betemit’s knee may have buckled as he tried to slam on the brakes. More information will be available later today.

Betemit, projected as the left-handed designated hitter and backup first baseman, belted a three-run homer in the first inning, lifted a sacrifice fly in the third and walked in the fifth. He also had a two-run double yesterday in Bradenton, as his bat finally began to heat up.

Today’s game left Betemit 8-for-37 with two homers and eight RBIs.

Should the injury be serious, a roster spot will open for one of the players currently on the bubble.

Betemit hit .302/.357/.502 from the left side of the plate last season, and .140/.219/.186 from the right side.

The Orioles were leading, 9-4, when Betemit went down, but Jonny Gomes hit a two-run homer off Jim Johnson in the top of the sixth inning.

Update: The Orioles are listing the injury as a right knee ligament sprain. Betemit will be re-evaluated on Tuesday.

The club must hope that an MRI doesn’t reveal more serious damage to the knee, which is often the case.

The Red Sox tied the game 9-9 in the seventh by scoring three runs off Pedro Strop. Mike Carp had an RBI double and Jackie Bradley Jr. followed with a two-run single.