Flaherty exits in third inning with groin issue

BALTIMORE -- Orioles utility infielder Ryan Flaherty, who came off the disabled list on Friday with a strained right groin muscle, was forced to leave Monday's 5-2 win over the Blue Jays in the top of the third inning.

Flaherty, who was playing second base, tried to back-hand a sharp grounder by Ryan Goins, but it appeared he could not bend low enough for the ball. Flaherty came up grimacing in pain, and eventually walked off the field with team trainers. He will get an MRI on Tuesday.

"As I was going over for the ball, I felt it grab again," Flaherty said. "It's not pain or anything like that. It's just something that I haven't dealt with before, and it just feels like a grabbing sensation sometimes."

David Lough entered and played left field for Steve Pearce, who took over at second base.

The Orioles have struggled with injuries in the middle of their infield this season. Shortstop J.J. Hardy was on the DL until Thursday with an injured left shoulder. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop is currently on the DL with a with a partially torn right knee ligament.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he will sit down with the trainers to decide the next course of action for Flaherty. Because of a roster crunch, Flaherty will have to be available Tuesday to remain active.

"What's tough is he's never had any leg problems, so it's so hard to get feedback that's accurate," Showalter said. "We'll look at it. You know Ryan. That's not like him. He probably would have gotten that ball normally."

Flaherty didn't think the pain was as bad as the one that sent him to the DL. However, he did feel the discomfort in the same area and was not sure if the injury would prompt another trip to the DL.

"Obviously, that's not all in my hands," he said. "But you know it doesn't feel severe, it doesn't feel like something is seriously wrong. It's just something that's nagging, that's bothering me."