It wasn’t a good bottom of the fifth inning for Baltimore Orioles third basemen Wilson Betemit as it spoiled what happened in his first at-bat as he hit a three-run home run off Boston Red Sox starter Graham Godfrey. First he flailed at a pitch from reliever Jose De La Torre that sent his bat flying into the crowd though he eventually worked a walk.
Then after Manny Machado worked the count full he was off on the pitch which got hit into shallow left field which got fielded by shortstop Jose Iglesias who threw it back to first for a double play. Betemit didn’t even make it to second base as he went down with an injury to his leg and as a result carted off the field.
The diagnosis from the Orioles is a right knee ligament strain and depending on the severity he will miss some time. Betemit for the spring hit .216, with eight hits, a double, two home runs, eight rbi, four walks and 14 strikeouts. He’s a versatile player who can play all the infield positions as well as the outfield and this year primarily start as the designated hitter.
With his injury Baltimore will is now in need of a left-handed dh.