Sore groin keeps Jennings out of lineup

ST. PETERSBURG -- Center fielder Desmond Jennings got a critical pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh inning of Friday night's win, then was lifted for a pinch-runner.

Jennings did not start again on Saturday night because of a lingering groin problem.

"He's the same today, coming off the bench, and we'll probably have to pinch-run for him again," manager Joe Maddon said. "It's kind of like a sore groin area. We don't think it's anything serious, but I don't want to push him right now, especially on this turf."

Maddon allowed that head trainer Ron Porterfield does not think the injury to be too serious.

"The fact we were willing to pinch-hit him yesterday speaks to that, too," Maddon said. "I honestly don't believe it's horrible. I'm not getting that from Ronnie. [We'll] go with him lightly this weekend, give him a day off [when the Rays are off on Monday] and see what he looks like on Tuesday."

Jennings is hitting .264 with a home run and five RBIs this season.