Machado leaves after 11th with groin stiffness

BALTIMORE -- Orioles third baseman Manny Machado exited Thursday's game after the 11th inning with right groin stiffness and he will be further evaluated on Friday.

Machado said he first felt the injury crop up on a slide into second base in the fourth inning and it got progressively worse. Orioles manager Buck Showalter approached the 21-year-old later in the game and decided to play it safe, pulling Machado before the 12th inning started.

"Just had some tightness in his groin and that long of a game, I didn't like some of the body language he had moving around and everything, especially running down the line," Showalter said. "You get a feel for your players and I didn't think he was moving well and I kind of took it out of his hands. I thought it would be good to exercise a little caution there and see where we are tomorrow."

Machado said he agreed with the decision and, while he has never dealt with a groin injury before, didn't think it was anything too serious.

"[It's] just tight. I don't feel it right now, but just stiffness," Machado said. "I don't think there's nothing too crazy, but we will just have to wait and see how it feels tomorrow."

Machado, who struck out in his final at-bat against Indians reliever Josh Outman in the 11th, rejoined the Orioles on May 1 after rehabbing back from last year's season-ending knee surgery. The All-Star made a fantastic play in the field on Thursday, robbing Carlos Santana of a second-inning hit and is batting .229 with a homer and three RBIs.

Machado was replaced by Ryan Flaherty, who moved over from second base to start the 12th inning, and Jonathan Schoop entered the game at second.