Groin strain knocks out streaking Cox

DETROIT -- The Rays played most of Thursday's game against the Tigers without one of their leading hitters.

First baseman Steve Cox suffered a left groin strain in the first inning and was replaced after batting in the third. He is considered day to day.

"It just hurts to run," Cox said. "I don't know how long it's going to take (to heal). Hopefully just by (today), but I doubt that."

Cox was hurt in the first inning when running on a 3-and-2, two-out pitch to Ben Grieve. The decision to pull him after his next at-bat was made shortly thereafter.

"He hit it to first and as I was running, I looked behind me to see where the ball was," Cox said. "That's when I did it."

Bobby Smith pinch ran for Cox after he got his second single of the game in the third. By going 2-for-2, Cox extended his hitting streak to a career-high eight games. He leads the team with a .370 average.

"He was going to hit the last at-bat," manager Hal McRae said. "I didn't want to take him out before he hit because he's been swinging the bat so well. After the at-bat, he knew he was out of the game."

Head trainer Jamie Reed said Cox tested the groin by running in the batting cages after coming out and could come off the bench against the Orioles today.

HIS TURN: In his first three starts, No. 1 starter Tanyon Sturtze has allowed 24 hits and 14 earned runs and walked 12.

The right-hander, who walked a career-high six in his last outing, starts against the Orioles today and obviously wants to improve.

"I just haven't been pitching the last couple of games," Sturtze said. "I know I'm better than what I've shown. I just want to get things turned around, get things started on a good foot again, start rolling some innings and get on a good roll."

MR. UTILITY: As he did at second base against the Blue Jays on Sunday, rookie Felix Escalona shined in the infield, this time at third base.

"I have to be a little quicker with ground balls," said Escalona, the Rule 5 pick who played third for the Giants during spring training. "It's a position so based on reactions and making good throws to first base. That's what I tried to do today."

Escalona impressed McRae on a grounder in the fifth, when he had to backpedal and jump to get the ball before throwing in time to get Wendell Magee at first.

"That was a tough play," McRae said. "A lot of third basemen don't make that play.

"He's handled himself well. I'll play him all over the infield and probably get him a couple games a week at least, since he can play all three positions (second, shortstop, third)."

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: Presented with the meaningful situation he'd been looking for, McRae called on rookie Jorge Sosa in the eighth.

Sosa, a Rule 5 pick the Rays acquired during spring training, had not allowed a run in his past two outings when he replaced Doug Creek with one out.

He allowed a single and a walk before Smith, playing first, made a diving play on a foul popup to end the inning.

"He did well," McRae said of Sosa. "I wanted to get him in one and see how he would handle it. He did well today. ... He'll get some more work. I'll just try to keep him rested and rotate him."

ODDS AND ENDS: The Rays' 14 hits matched a season high. ... By going 2-for-4, second baseman Brent Abernathy had his first multihit game since the opener. The Rays were 7-for-15 with the bases loaded before his single in the seventh. ... Grieve extended his hitting streak to nine games. ... Leftfielder Jason Tyner is 1-for-21 since April 12. ... In his first appearance since being optioned to Triple-A Durham, reliever Travis Phelps threw two-thirds of an inning Wednesday and allowed three runs on two hits and three walks.