BALTIMORE -- The Rays removed shortstop Taylor Walls from their starting lineup due to left hamstring tightness about an hour before first pitch Tuesday night at Camden Yards.
Walls’ status is day to day, according to the team. Infielder Oliver Dunn took Walls’ place in the lineup, batting ninth and playing shortstop.
It was Dunn’s first Major League appearance at shortstop, although he played 32 games there in the Minors, including five for Triple-A Charlotte earlier this season.
Walls entered Tuesday night slashing .202/.303/.282 with 14 RBIs and six steals in 40 games this season. He started each of Tampa Bay’s previous 16 games at shortstop and was in the lineup for all but three of the Rays’ 42 games since he came off the injured list on April 6.
The Rays are also missing infielder Ben Williamson, who has been Walls’ primary backup at shortstop, due to a low back strain. That left Dunn and former top prospect Carson Williams as their top options behind Walls.
Tampa Bay acquired Dunn from the White Sox last week in a trade for lefty reliever Joe Rock. Before Tuesday night, the Rays had only used Dunn off the bench as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement. He had his first plate appearances with Tampa Bay in extra innings during Monday’s 13-inning, 9-7 loss to the Orioles.