The 5-1 Orioles took down the Tigers in the finale of the three game series with a 9-5 win and without their starting shortstop J.J. Hardy. While warming up for Thursday night’s game, Hardy was experiencing tightness in his lower left rib cage, according to MASNSports.com’s Roch Kubatko.
Kubatko reports that Hardy “was going to play through it,” but that word got back to Buck Showalter and the O’s skipper decided to sit his starting shortstop.
“He didn’t like it, thought it was better to be safe than sorry,” Hardy said. “I think it was the right decision.”
Hardy told Kubatko that he thinks he could start on Friday, “I was ready to go tonight,” he said. I think it was just kind of to be safe. We’ll see. I’ve got to come back tomorrow and see how it feels and go from there.”
Showalter told the media following the game that with the cold weather he felt it was a good idea to let Hardy sit.
