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Mastroianni says sore hamstring nothing serious

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Outfielder Darin Mastroianni left Thursday's game against the Orioles in the fourth inning with a sore left hamstring and is day to day.

Mastroianni tweaked his hamstring on a check swing during his at-bat against Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman. He still managed to hit a double that at-bat but was taken out for pinch-runner Clete Thomas.

Mastroianni, who is competing for the center-field job along with Aaron Hicks and Joe Benson, said he originally injured his hamstring in early December while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League. But he said the injury is only minor and that he was taken out for precautionary reasons.

"It's fine," said Mastroianni, who was 2-for-3 with a run scored in Thursday's 7-1 victory. "It's just something we've been working on down here. It's been lingering since I was in Venezuela. It's something that doesn't bother me when I'm running. It's only when I'm decelerating. It should be gone in a couple days, so I'm not worried about it."

Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, and follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger.
Read More: Minnesota Twins, Darin Mastroianni