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Lucas leaves early with hamstring strain

Battling for roster spot, infielder feels injury running bases in fourth inning

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Marlins added some infield depth for this season, and right now they need it.

Ed Lucas, who started at second base on Thursday against the Tigers, was replaced in the bottom of the fourth inning with a strained left hamstring. The infielder said he felt something running the bases in the top of the inning. He singled and scored from third base on Jake Marisnick's two-run double.

Lucas had been listed on the travel squad to go to Panama this weekend for the Marlins' two-game set against the Yankees.

"It's a hamstring strain," manager Mike Redmond said of the injury to Lucas, who was listed as day to day. "We'll have to make an adjustment and figure out what we're going to do [with the Panama trip]. I'm not sure what we're going to do there. Obviously, if he can't play -- which he's probably not going to be able to -- we'll have to take somebody else."

The Marlins have been shorthanded in the infield with second baseman Rafael Furcal resting a mild left hamstring strain. And Jeff Baker, who plays third base, second and first, has been nursing a tight left quadriceps. Derek Dietrich replaced Lucas on Thursday.

Dietrich and Donovan Solano are options to man second base.

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter Read More: Miami Marlins, Ed Lucas