masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – After he doubled, walked and delivered an RBI single in his first three plate appearances today, Brian Roberts fouled a ball off his right ankle when batting in the last of the sixth. He went on to strike out and was replaced by Yamaico Navarro when the Orioles took the field for the seventh.

But Roberts was slated to exit the game then anyway, and he told reporters after today’s game he feels his ankle will be OK.

“It’s fine, it will be fine,” Roberts said. “Just sore,…SARASOTA, Fla. – After he doubled, walked and delivered an RBI single in his first three plate appearances today, Brian Roberts fouled a ball off his right ankle when batting in the last of the sixth. He went on to strike out and was replaced by Yamaico Navarro when the Orioles took the field for the seventh.

But Roberts was slated to exit the game then anyway, and he told reporters after today’s game he feels his ankle will be OK.

“It’s fine, it will be fine,” Roberts said. “Just sore, but no big deal. That was going to be my last at-bat either way. Figured we’d end with a bang, why not.”

If he is in the lineup tomorrow, does he feel he’ll be OK to play?

“Yeah, I would think so. It’s spring training, so we’ll see how I feel tomorrow, I guess. But I would think I’ll be fine,” Roberts said.

His 2-for-3 day leaves him batting .361 this spring (13-for-36) with three doubles, a homer, four RBIs and three stolen bases.

Meanwhile, Nolan Reimold started in left field this afternoon, playing in the field for the first time since March 1 due to a sore throwing shoulder. He didn’t have to make any tough throws.

“Not really, I didn’t really let it go or anything but it feels really good, so if I did it wouldn’t have been a problem,” Reimold said. “I think the original diagnosis was pretty accurate and we treated it the correct way and it feels pretty good now.

“I’ve thrown. I’ve taken infield the last two days and I’m not really hesitant to throw the ball or anything like that, because I’ve already done it.”

At bat, Reimold went 3-for-4 and hit two long solo homers to left in the second and third innings, his third and fourth blasts of the spring.

“Lot of fun. It’s always fun when you have a good day. Felt pretty good. Swing felt a lot better than before, so just trying to build on that,” said Reimold, who is now batting .258 with four homers and seven RBIs this spring.

Reimold underwent surgery to remove a herniated disc in his neck and fuse two vertebrae in June, leaving his left shoulder a little weak. Then he left a game March 1 in the second inning against Pittsburgh with a sore right shoulder.

But now he feels the neck and both shoulders will be fine, have been tested somewhat and he will be ready to start the season April 2 against Tampa Bay.

“Yeah. Definitely. We’ve got two more weeks. Already feel pretty good. Progressing and getting better with every game. I’ll be all right,” Reimold said.

With their 6-5 win today over the Blue Jays on the strength of five solo homers, the Orioles are 4-0-1 this spring against Toronto and now 15-6-2 overall.