O's opt to DH Jones to rest sore right leg

BALTIMORE -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter penciled in Adam Jones as the designated hitter against the Yankees on Tuesday night, adding that the center fielder is dealing with some soreness in his right leg.

"To be frank with you, he felt some soreness late in [Monday's] game," Showalter said. "I didn't like the way he described it."

In the ninth inning of Monday's 6-4 loss to New York, Jones reached on an infield single and stole second base. But as Chris Davis struck out to end the inning, Jones showed signs of discomfort in his right leg. Jones bent over in apparent pain and tested the leg while walking gingerly out to his post in center field for the top of the 10th inning.

"I'm good, man -- just been running a lot," said Jones, who played in all 162 of the O's games last year. "I've just got to make sure my legs stay in shape because if they are not, playing center field would be a lot more difficult."

Showalter said Jones felt better on Tuesday and that the star outfielder would prefer to play center field, "but I'll wear it," Showalter said.

Jones demurred when asked if Tuesday's partial day off would be good for him.

"Sort of, but I don't like DHing," Jones said. "I like to be in center field -- that's just me. But [Showalter] wants to keep our legs fresh, I'm sure. [Right fielder Nick] Markakis DH'd in Minnesota, and he just wants to keep our legs fresh, so he puts us at DH."