masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgCINCINNATI – Orioles outfielder Seth Smith left tonight’s game against the Reds with a strained right hamstring, the same ailment that limited his appearances in spring training.
Smith started in left field and was replaced by Trey Mancini in the bottom of the sixth inning. He was 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored and is batting .259 with three doubles and two home runs in nine games.
Smith also was bothered by a sore hamstring last spring and the Orioles were cautious with him in Sarasota…

CINCINNATI – Orioles outfielder Seth Smith left tonight’s game against the Reds with a strained right hamstring, the same ailment that limited his appearances in spring training.

Smith started in left field and was replaced by Trey Mancini in the bottom of the sixth inning. He was 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored and is batting .259 with three doubles and two home runs in nine games.

Seth-Smith-catch-orange-sidebar.jpgSmith also was bothered by a sore hamstring last spring and the Orioles were cautious with him in Sarasota to ensure that it didn’t carry into the season. He appeared in only eight games and collected five hits in 20 at-bats.

Manager Buck Showalter put Smith in right field and atop the order for opening day.

The Orioles acquired Smith from the Mariners on Jan. 6 for pitcher Yovani Gallardo.

Outfielder Joey Rickard isn’t ready to come off the disabled list on Wednesday and now the Orioles may have lost Smith for an indefinite period. Showalter will provide an update after the game.

Pedro Álvarez, who can opt out of his minor league contract next month, hit his third home run tonight for Triple-A Norfolk. The first two came in the Tides’ opener.

The reports on Álvarez’s outfield defense haven’t been favorable.

Double-A Bowie’s Cedric Mullins hit a three-run homer tonight and continues to impress in all facets of the game. He isn’t on the 40-man roster, but the Orioles have multiple ways to clear room, including transferring Rule 5 pick Anthony Santander to the 60-day disabled list.

Mullins is batting .412 with five doubles, a triple, four home runs and 11 RBIs in 12 games since making the jump from low Single-A Delmarva.

Better to wait until Showalter updates Smith’s condition before adjusting the roster.

Mychal Givens, in his first appearance tonight since April 12 in Boston, tossed a scoreless sixth inning with one walk. His last pitch was clocked at 98 mph on the stadium gun and a few other fastballs registered at 97 mph.

The Reds loaded the bases against Tyler Wilson in the seventh, but he escaped the jam. Before facing the last batter, Wilson received a visit from Showalter and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and threw a few warmup pitches.

The Orioles continue to trail 9-3 in the eighth inning.

Update: The Orioles dropped the first game of the series 9-3.

Wilson tossed two scoreless innings. With Vidal Nuño working 2 1/3 innings, the Orioles may need to make a roster move to bring up a long reliever to back up starter Ubaldo Jiménez.